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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Palm Harbor

Hurricane Irma | Tropical Storm | Weather

Disaster survival assistance teams will also hold hours in St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs.

PALM HARBOR – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a Disaster Recovery Center today (Oct. 13) in Palm Harbor to help residents affected by Hurricane Irma.

The DRC will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 2431 Tampa Road in Palm Harbor. The center will close the end of October. The actual closing date will be determined by public response and will be announced later in the month.

Disaster Recovery Centers serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from FEMA, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the U.S. Small Business Administration and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners and renters, and to help them apply for assistance.

Applying with FEMA for disaster assistance often includes a referral to the SBA for a low-interest loan, even if the applicants do not think they need a loan. If approved there is no obligation to take the loan. If they are not approved, they may be eligible for additional FEMA disaster assistance.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters and certain private non-profit organizations. SBA loans may cover repairs and rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

Residents and businesses do not need to go to a center to apply for assistance. They can go online at disasterassistance.gov or register via the FEMA app. The app is available for download through the Apple App Store or Google Play, by searching for FEMA. Residents may also register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA but they are advised to call early or late and be prepared for long on-hold times. 

FEMA teams in the community

FEMA disaster survival assistance teams, which have been working throughout the county helping survivors register for assistance, will be at several community centers to assist residents and work with staff members to help them gain a better understanding of the disaster registration and assistance process.

The teams will be at each of the following centers from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Today (Oct. 13)
Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center
304 S Pinellas Ave.

Monday (Oct. 16)
Lutheran Services
7901 4th St. N, Unit 308
St. Petersburg

Tuesday (Oct. 17)
Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg
2113 16th St. N
St. Petersburg

Hurricane Irma | FEMA | Hurricane Recovery | Tampabay News | TB Reporter

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