FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Bladen and Sampson Counties

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can now get information about available state and federal assistance at Disaster Recovery Centers in Bladen and Sampson counties opening Friday, Oct. 28.

Location:                   Bladen County

Powell Melvin Agricultural Service Center

450 Smith Circle

Elizabethtown, NC 28337

Sampson County

Sampson County Human Services

360 County Complex Road, Suite 200, Room 274

Clinton, NC 28328

 Regular hours:         Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., until further notice.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, North Carolina Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can receive help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates regarding your application.

FEMA and the state also have DRCs open in 14 additional counties. To locate a DRC nearest to you, call 1-800-621-3362 or download the FEMA mobile app.  If you have access to a computer, you can go online to ncdps.gov.

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. It is the same number if you use 711, Video Relay Service, or any other relay service.
• Call 800-462-7585 if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY
• Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assests/veideos/111546

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at ncdps.gov/. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4.

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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 TTY at 800-462-7585.

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.