Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Pinellas County

From Pinellas County Communications:

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open for local victims of Hurricane Hermine. The center is open Monday-Saturday at St. Petersburg College EpiCenter. Residents seeking assistance must apply online. Pinellas County is working with federal agencies to provide relief for homeowners and renters in Pinellas County affected by Hurricane Hermine's storms and flooding that impacted the state between Aug. 31 and Sept. 11.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the St. Petersburg College EpiCenter (13805 58th St. N. in Clearwater) to assist Pinellas County residents affected by Hurricane Hermine. The center is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

Disaster Recovery Centers serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the FEMA, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)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.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recoverycenter via any of the following methods:

• Apply online
• Contact FEMA by smart phone or tablet using the FEMA app
• Call the FEMA toll-free number 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Telephone lines are answered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

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

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