For Immediate Release

Florence County Disaster Recovery Center to open in Lake City

FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25 at the ROB Building, located at 245 S. Church St. in Lake City.

The center will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays.

FEMA will also have Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library, 509 S. Dargen St., in Florence from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.,  Monday-Saturday, for the next two weeks.

Representatives from FEMA will be at these locations to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid. It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive state-federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

To register go online any time to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and phone lines are open 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

Federal and state disaster assistance for eligible individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences and help with other serious disaster-related losses not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are the primary means of federal help for disaster survivors, including homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Individuals and businesses should first register with FEMA. For information on SBA disaster recovery loans call 800-659-2955/800-877-8339 TTY or go online to SBA.gov/disaster. An application for an SBA disaster recovery loan may be completed online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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