Advantages of Visiting a Joint State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a readily accessible facility where you may go for information about federal, state and other disaster assistance programs, and to ask questions related to your situation. It is more personal than the telephone. 

You can meet face-to-face with representatives from North Carolina Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies at the centers to get answers to your questions about disaster assistance.

Some of the services offered at a DRC may include:

• Guidance about disaster recovery and eligibility
• Assistance applying
• Application status updates
• Clarification of any written correspondence received
  • Please read your FEMA letter carefully to understand FEMA’s decision and what you need to do next. Many times there is just a request to submit extra documents in order for FEMA to process your application.
  • You may need to include an insurance settlement letter, proof of residence, proof of ownership of the damaged property, and/or proof that the damaged property was your primary residence at the time of the disaster.
• Housing assistance and rental resource information you may not know is available
• Referrals to other agencies and state programs that may provide further assistance
• Information about disaster related funeral and other needs assistance
• Information about low-interest disaster loans.

All disaster recovery centers offer effective communication options, including captioned phones, iPads with video remote interpreting, assistive listening devices, magnifiers and onsite American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters upon request. Both Braille and Large Print FEMA documents are available. If you require a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille large print, etc.) while visiting a DRC, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.

To locate the nearest DRC, download the FEMA mobile app, visit fema.gov/DRC, or call the FEMA helpline. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (until further notice).

If you haven’t already registered with FEMA for federal disaster assistance, you’re encouraged to register before visiting a DRC if possible. If you need help with registering, you can do so at the DRC. You can register by downloading the FEMA mobile app, online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit readync.org  and fema.gov/disaster/4285. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management at @ncemergency.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY).

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.