Joint FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Opens for Three Days in Brunswick County

RALEIGH, N.C. – FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management are establishing Disaster Recovery Centers in disaster-affected counties to reach residents of North Carolina who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew. The Brunswick County center is open to provide a place where you can apply for disaster assistance and receive information about available state and federal assistance and other recovery information. The center is in Bolivia for three days: Thursday, Nov. 10, Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12 until close of business.

Location:                 Brunswick County Emergency Service Center

                 3325 Old Ocean Highway

                     Bolivia, NC 28422

 Hours of Operation:            Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Recovery specialists from FEMA, NCEM and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to speak with you face-to-face to answer questions you may have regarding the disaster assistance process, other assistance available and help you register if you haven’t already.

If you have registered, they can provide you with an update of your application status and if needed, discuss the appeal process.

To locate the center nearest you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, use the ReadyNC and FEMA mobile apps or go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or readync.org.

Registering with FEMA is the first step to federal disaster assistance. Register:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.

• Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate Helpline number listed above for support. These toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in many languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at www.fema.gov/media-library/assestss/videos/111546.

FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.

Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has 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 readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @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 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.