RALEIGH, N.C. – The disaster recovery center in Columbus County is moving to a new location at 9 a.m., Monday, Nov. 5.
The new location is:
Columbus County Community Farmers Market
132 Government Complex Road
Whiteville, N.C. 28472
Open: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, until further notice
Recovery centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in counties included in the North Carolina federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Florence.
Representatives from the state, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other organizations are at the centers to explain available assistance programs and help connect survivors with resources that best match their recovery needs.
Survivors may visit any disaster recovery center. To find center locations and current hours, download the FEMA mobile app in English or Spanish, the ReadyNC app, or visit FEMA.gov/DRC. Center hours and operations are adjusted based on visitor demand.
Homeowners, renters and businesses should register for disaster assistance before visiting a recovery center. There are several ways to register:
- Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or DisasterAssistance.gov/es for Spanish.
- Use the FEMA mobile app in English or Spanish.
- Call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or VRS) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) anytime from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.
All recovery centers are accessible to people with disabilities. Centers have assistive technology equipment, such as amplified phones and listening devices for people with hearing loss and magnifiers for people with vision loss. In-person American Sign Language interpreters are available by request by calling or texting 202-655-8824. (If possible, please allow 24 hours to schedule an interpreter). The centers also have accessible parking, ramps and restrooms.
- Go online to watch a video on how to Request an American Sign Language interpreter.
The 34 North Carolina counties designated for Individual Assistance are Anson, Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Chatham, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Greene, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Orange, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Union, Wayne and Wilson.
The NC 211 statewide information line can provide callers with nearby shelter, housing and other storm-related details. Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162, or text Florence to 898211. The information line is staffed around the clock to connect North Carolinians to storm resources.
For more information on North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Florence, visit ncdps.gov/Florence and FEMA.gov/Disaster/4393. Follow us on Twitter: @NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.
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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during and after disasters.