In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Augusta.
This center, which opened on Sunday, Oct. 13, is located at 631 Chafee Ave., where the Hub for Community Innovation is housed.
Visitors to the DRC will be able to sign up for FEMA assistance in-house or can ask questions about the process.
According to FEMA Media Relations Specialist Nikki Gaskins-Campbell, no appointment is needed and visitors are not required to bring forms of ID.
Impact on the CSRA
“This is what we are here for, we are here to serve the people in the state of Georgia and meet them where they are in their current situation,” said Gaskins-Campbell. “This whole recovery can be very stressful, especially if someone suffered tremendous loss at the hands of Hurricane Helene.”
FEMA has currently approved more than $111.2 million for Georgia households and over $126.3 million for South Carolina households according to this representative.
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Receiving assistance
Gaskins-Campbell said that everyone looking for assistance should file with their insurance first if they have it. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments; in other words, if your insurance can cover it, FEMA isn’t able to.
“File with your insurance first,” she said. “That is always going to be a disaster survivor’s first line of defense.”
She said that for people who are uninsured or under-insured, FEMA can help “fill in some of those gaps.”
She added that keeping detailed documentation is essential during the recovery process, and that those affected should hang on to receipts that are used to purchase emergency needs and should take pictures and videos that can “make your case even stronger.”
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Hours of operation, additional locations
The DRC at this location will be open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 1-6 p.m. The center will be open indefinitely until the demand is significantly less. Gaskins-Campbell said FEMA will remain in Georgia as long as needed.
“FEMA is a piece of the puzzle. We are certainly not the entire piece,” she said, noting that storm relief is also offered by local officials, non-profit organizations, houses of worship and small businesses. “We’re all working together to help disaster survivors on their road to recovery.”
North Augusta also has a DRC at 135 Edgefield Road. Additional locations in Georgia and South Carolina can be found on FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center Locator.
