This week the deadline passed for applying for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, in the wake of Hurricane Florence. They have closed their support center at the Independence Mall. But the agency is still active in the region.
FEMA has closed its recovery center at the old Sears store at the Mall.
However there are still resources at that location, for residents needing support after Hurricane Florence.
Pam Saulsby is with FEMA.
“There are no FEMA staff people inside the DRC disaster recovery center anymore. But there are folks from the state government and local government and various nonprofits are there because it's a community approach to recovery. And so the county and the state are taking ownership of recovery as they should.”
Saulsby says these agencies might be able to help those who did not register with FEMA after the storm. That deadline passed this week.
“There are state entities, local entities who can help them with some of their needs in recovery. That's where that 211 number comes from. And actually, you know, the office in the building now at Independence Mall, it's kind of a state run disaster recovery center and you know there's no registration for that. They will come and look at, listen to, your situation and make referrals based on your needs.”
She says some 20,000 people registered for FEMA assistance in New Hanover County.
For WHQR News, I’m Vince Winkel.