COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, Nov. 1) – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), offering information on disaster assistance to survivors of the storms and floods of Hurricane Matthew, will open in Georgetown County Nov. 1. The center will be located at the Beck Recreation Center, 2030 Church St., Georgetown, SC 29440. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.
The DRC is staffed by state and federal disaster recovery specialists, and representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration, various state agencies and voluntary organizations. It is a one-stop shop for survivors seeking information on programs available to them or needing one-on-one help with disaster recovery issues.
DRCs are accessible to people with disabilities. The centers have tools to amplify sound, magnifiers and materials in alternative formats along with video remote interpretation. Sign language interpreters are available upon request at the center.
Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC by calling 800 621-3362 (voice, 711, video services) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Or they can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Registering with FEMA is the first step toward qualifying for disaster assistance which may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacements and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
Other DRCs operating in the state are:
Beaufort County
Burton Wells Recreation Center 1 Middleton Recreation Drive Beaufort, S.C. 29906
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Dorchester County
Miles Road Baptist Church Community Life Center 816 Miles Road
Summerville, SC 29485
- a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
Florence County
Ragsdale Old Warehouse 245 S. Church St.
Lake City, SC 29560
- a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
Horry County
South Strand Recreation Center 6950 Scipio Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
Marion County
Mullins City Hall 151 NE Front Street Mullins, SC 29574
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
Saffold Building
6876 Highway 908 Gresham, SC 29546
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County Government Building 8423 Old State Road
Holly Hill, SC 29059
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
YMCA
2550 St. Matthew Road Orangeburg, SC 29118
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
Williamsburg County
Williamsburg Recreation Center 2084 Thurgood Marshall Highway Kingstree, SC 29556
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Closed Sunday
FEMA mitigation specialists are available at DRCs to provide literature to survivors on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and guidance on cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to make homes more flood resistant.
For more specific NFIP questions, survivors can call the NFIP Support Call Center by dialing 1-800- 621-FEMA (3362) and pressing 2. For mold and mildew information, visit your local health department.
All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).
You can receive weather alerts, safety tips and learn about disaster resources by downloading the free FEMA App, available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Visit fema.gov/mobile-app for more information.
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 us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.
The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster- damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters 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 Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.