Disaster Recovery Center to open in Thomas County

Published 12:54 pm Tuesday, February 7, 2017

THOMASVILLE — A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Thomas County Wednesday to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by January severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. 

The center will be staffed with representatives from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other disaster-assistance officials who can provide information and guidance for storm survivors.

The Thomas County location is Thomasville-Thomas County Emergency Services Center, 1202 Remington Ave., Thomasville.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is closed Sundays.

Other counties designated for FEMA individuals and households assistance are Berrien, Cook, Crisp, Dougherty, Turner, Wilcox and Worth.

Survivors are urged to register with FEMA before visiting any Disaster Recover Center, but they also can do so at the center.

To register with FEMA:

• Log onto DisasterAssistance.gov

• Download the official FEMA app at Google Play or the Apple App Store

• Or visit fema.gov/mobile-app. to download the app

Call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or VRS or require accommodations while visiting a center, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Help is available in most languages, and information about the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

To find other Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Georgia, log onto fema.gov and search for FEMA: DRC Locator.

For updates on Georgia’s current disaster response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gema.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4294 or fema.gov/disaster/4297.

Cheria Brown, FEMA media relations specialist, was in Thomasville on Tuesday morning with a FEMA team preparing to visit Thomas County sites struck by the inclement weather. The team will go to the local sites this week.

“Any impact is devastating wherever you live,” Brown said, pointing out damage throughout southwest Georgia.

Survivors whose property was uninsured or underinsured should register. Also eligible are those whose property was insured.

Brown said certain aspects of insurance do not cover all situations faced in a weather disaster, adding that FEMA help might be possible.

“Anybody who suffered damage can actually register for assistance,” Brown explained.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820