Posted on October 10, 2017
Hurricane Irma Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Sunrise
Broward County, FL - A Disaster Recovery Center opened on Monday, October 9, in Sunrise in the Atrium West building located at 7771 W. Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33351. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.
Disaster Recovery Centers offer in-person support to individuals and small business owners. Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the state are available to provide assistance to anyone who needs help filling out applications or updating their status. Voluntary organizations are also available and offer a variety of services to help survivors recover.
More centers can be located through the FEMA website or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, (TTY) 800-462-7585. Helpline numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. DRC information is also available on the FEMA App.
The registration process is the first step in your recovery and requires information such as insurance policies and bank information for possible direct transfer of funds. Survivors are encouraged to register before visiting a DRC.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest federal disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. The SBA is the federal government's primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged property.
If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:
- Online
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. Information on the registration process is available in ASL here.
- Help is available in most languages.
- Download the FEMA App and apply.
If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please see a DRC manager when you arrive. Language translations are offered through Telephonic Interpretation Services in 200 languages.
If you've already registered, it is not necessary to visit a DRC, but you may still want to go speak with a Recovery Specialist to update your status or find help from the other organizations.
FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.
Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.
For more recovery information, visit the FEMA website for Irma, or follow them @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and on FEMA's Facebook page.