FEMA: New Center to Assist Hurricane Survivors in Laurens County

ATLANTA, Georgia, Nov. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is opening Sunday, Nov. 4, in Laurens County to assist Georgia residents who suffered damages and property loss due to Hurricane Michael.

Survivors who are insured, uninsured or underinsured are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before visiting a DRC. FEMA grants and SBA loans may be able to help cover survivors' underinsured damaged property and destroyed essential items. If an applicant is insured, he/she is strongly encouraged to first file a claim with their insurance company, and then register for disaster assistance with FEMA.

A DRC provides residents an opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from the State of Georgia, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as other federal partners.

The new center is located at:

Laurens County, Old West Laurens (OWL) High School, 338 West Laurens School Rd., Dublin, GA 31021

Hours: Sunday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A DRC enables the survivor to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists who can answer questions about temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of damaged personal property and other disaster-related needs, such as medical, dental or transportation costs not covered by insurance or other programs.

The President declared 20 Georgia counties major disaster areas, clearing the way for homeowners, renters and business owners to register for help. The counties are: Baker, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Seminole, Crisp, Grady, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell, Thomas, Worth, Calhoun, Clay, Laurens, Randolph, Sumter, Tift and Turner counties.

Eligible applicants can register for assistance by calling: (800) 621-3362, or applying online at: disasterassistance.gov. The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing-impaired.

Survivors who are unable to register for assistance before visiting a DRC are welcome to use the center's phone banks and computers.

With the addition of the new center in Laurens County, FEMA will be operating 19 DRCs throughout southwest and central Georgia, with more locations expected to open soon. Here is a list of the 19 DRC locations that will be in operation as of Nov. 4 (For days and hours of operation, go to FEMA's DRC Locator (http://www.fema.gov/DRC)):

Baker County

Baker County Senior Center, 439 Highway 91-North, Newton, GA 39870

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Calhoun County

Morgan City Hall, 54 Court St., Morgan, GA 39866

11/2-11/7,8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/4,1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 11/16-11/21, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/18, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Clay County

Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), 200 Wilson St. (Senior Citizen Community Center), Fort Gaines, GA 39851

11/2-11/7,8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/4, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 11/16-11/21, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/18, 1 p.m.-7 p.m

Crisp County

Crisp County, Government Center, 210 South 7th St., Cordele, GA 31015

11/8-11/13, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 11, 1 p.m.-7 p.m

Decatur County

Decatur County Memorial Coliseum, 600 South Wheat Ave., Bainbridge, GA 39819

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Dougherty County

Isabell School, 300 Cason St., Albany, GA 31705

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Dougherty County

Albany Technical College, Kirkland Hall, 1704 South Slappey Blvd., Albany, GA 31701

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Early County

Early County Alternative School, 544 Howell St., Blakely, GA 39823

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Grady County

Grady County Agricultural Center, 65 11th Ave. NE., Cairo, GA 39828

11/1-11/6, 8 a.m.-7 p.m; Sunday, 11/4, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 11/15-11/20, 8 a.m.-7 p.m; Sunday, 11/18, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Laurens County

Old West Laurens (OWL) High School, 338 West Laurens School Rd., Dublin, GA 31021

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Lee County

Century Fire Station, 934 U.S. Highway 19 South, Leesburg, GA 31763

11/8-11/13, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 11, 1 p.m.-7 p.m

Miller County

First Baptist Church-Gymnasium, 351 E. Pine St., Colquitt, GA 39837

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Mitchell County

Mitchell County Emergency Service Building, 4767 U.S. Highway 37, Camilla, GA 31730

11/1-11/6, 8 a.m.-7 p.m; Sunday, 11/4, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 11/15-11/20, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/18, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Seminole County

First Baptist Church, 409 South Woolfork Ave., Donalsonville, GA 39845

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Seminole County

Spring Creek Baptist Church, 2635 US Highway 253, Donalsonville, GA 39845

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Terrell County

Terrell County Courthouse/Judge's Chamber, 499 Roundtree Dr. SW, Dawson, GA 39842

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Thomas County

Emergency Operations Center/Fire Station #3, (in front of the YMCA), 1202 Remington Ave., Thomasville, GA 31792

11/8-11/13, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/11, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Turner County

Turner County Civic Center, 354 Lamar St., Ashburn, GA 31714

11/2-11/7, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/4, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 11/16-11/21, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/18, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Worth County

Worth County Community Center, 1301 N. Monroe St., Sylvester, GA 31791

11/1-11/6, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/4, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 11/15-11/20, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11/18, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.