FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opening In Cocoa

COCOA, FL – Brevard County residents seeking federal assistance following Hurricane Irma will have a chance to meet with FEMA agents directly this weekend.

FEMA will open a temporary Disaster Recovery Center from Thursday, Sept. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. each day at the Brevard County Agricultural Center, 3695 Lake Drive in Cocoa. According to FEMA, Disaster Recovery Centers allow state and local officials to maximize their reach to as many affected areas and survivors as possible.

Recovery specialists from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the State of Florida will provide assistance with filling out applications or updating their status. Volunteer organizations will also be on-hand to offer a variety of services to help residents recover.

Residents and small-business owners are required to register, and are required to provide other documentation such as insurance policies and bank information in case a direct transfer of funds is necessary.

Applicants are encouraged to register before visiting the Disaster Recovery Center. If an applicant has phone and/or internet access, pre-registration can be done in the following ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Calling the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. Applicants with speech or hearing disabilities can use TTY at (800) 462-7585. Assistance is available in most languages, and an ASL video is available at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.
• Downloading the FEMA Mobile at www.fema.gov/mobile-app

Disability assistance is also available at the centers, including ASL interpreting, Braille and large-print documents by calling (800) 621-3362. Language translations are also offered through Telephonic Interpretation Services in more than 200 languages.

Registered applicants are not required to visit a Disaster Recovery Center, but FEMA said they are welcome to attend to speak with a Recovery Specialist to update their status or to find help from the other participating organizations.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

For more information, visit www.fema.gov/hurricane-irma

Caption: Hurricane Irma caused damage to a condominiium on Indian River Avenue in Titusville.

Image courtesy of Shanin Long