FEMA center to open in parish

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, October 30, 2008

VIDALIA — A disaster recovery center with the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open in Concordia Parish in the coming month.

The purpose of the disaster recovery center is to help area residents process claims for federal assistance to repair or replace property that was damaged during Hurricane Gustav

Adams County residents will also be able to use the Concordia Parish center, which will be located at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center, Concordia Parish Emergency Director Morris White said.

“That will give the entire Miss-Lou area a chance to work with (FEMA) a little longer,” White said.

FEMA and local officials still have to work out some details before a final date is set for when the center will open, White said.

The disaster recovery center in Adams County — located in the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall on U.S. 61 — will close Friday.

FEMA has requested that all residents applying for aid — which can come in the form of grants or emergency loans — register with the agency before coming to the center.

To register for assistance online, go to www.fema.gov. The agency can also be reached by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

When making the call, residents should have their social security number as well as that of their spouse, the address and zip code of the damaged property, directions to that property and information about their private insurance policy if they have one.

They should also have ready telephone numbers where FEMA can reach then and bank account information to allow direct deposit and a current mailing address.

The call — which can be done in any language — takes approximately 20 minutes.