North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can get information about disaster assistance in Harnett and Nash counties at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) opening Saturday, October 15. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice.
The Disaster Recovery Centers are located at:
Harnett County Governmental Complex
309 West Cornelius (Harnett) Blvd.
Lillington, NC 27546
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Continuing Education Building
Nash Community College
3866 Eastern Ave.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Representatives from North Carolina Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), are at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.
If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center. To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. 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.
Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and registration assistance.
Some of the services may include:
- Status FEMA application
- Disaster recovery guidance
- Clarification of any written correspondence received
- Housing assistance and rental resources information
- Answers to questions, resolutions to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance
Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Low-interest disaster loans from SBA also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
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