DAMAGES — This home on West Minnesota Avenue in DeLand suffered serious damages from Hurricane Ian, which hit Volusia County with tropical storm force winds.
FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center opens today, Wednesday, Oct. 12, to assist Volusia County residents impacted by Hurricane Ian. The DRC will be at the Florida Department of Health- Volusia, 1845 Holsonback Drive in Daytona Beach, and will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week.
In addition to FEMA representatives, local governments and social service agencies will be on-site to assist residents and businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian.
“We anticipate our residents will require assistance from numerous partners to address their needs,” Volusia County Community Services Director Dona Butler said. “Having one centralized location with so many resources is a big step forward in the recovery process.”
The services and information available at the DRC will include, but are not limited to the following:
— Assessment and guidance to available resources in the community
— Applying for FEMA assistance
— Housing and utility information
— FEMA application status updates
— Appealing a denied FEMA application
— Resources and advice from the Small Business Administration
At this time, appointments are not available or required to enter the DRC. Residents will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis and are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.
The DRC is accessible to people with disabilities. It has assistive technology equipment allowing impacted residents to interact with staff. Video remote interpreting is available, and in-person sign language is available by request. The center also has accessible parking, ramps and restrooms. Assistance is also available to residents who speak a language other than English.
Volusia County residents may preregister for Disaster-SNAP benefits starting Monday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 30. The DRC is not assisting with D-SNAP preregistration. The Department of Children and Families will hold in-person D-SNAP registration events in the county. Information about the events will be posted soon. To learn more about D-SNAP, visit myflfamilies.com/dsnap.
— Volusia County Community Information Specialist Heather Belden
