To:  News Media

From:  Bamberg County Public Information Office

Cc:  Bamberg County Emergency Services, Bamberg County Administration

Date:  November 15, 2016

Subject:  Disaster Recovery Center Opens In Bamberg County to Help Hurricane Matthew Survivors

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A disaster recovery center is open for three days in Bamberg to help residents with damages and losses from Hurricane Matthew. The Bamberg County center will be open today Monday, November 14, through Wednesday, November 16.

Representatives from the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other public and private agencies are at the center to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors with applications for aid. 

The disaster recovery center is located at the following address:

Bamberg County

Bamberg County Emergency Management

847 Calhoun Street

Bamberg, SC 29003

9 AM to 7 PM, Monday - Wednesday

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive state-federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

To register go online any time to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and phone lines are open 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

Federal and state disaster assistance for eligible individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences and help with other serious disaster-related losses not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are the primary means of federal help for disaster survivors, including homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Individuals and businesses should first register with FEMA. For information on SBA disaster recovery loans call 800-659-2955/800-877-8339 TTY or go online to SBA.gov/disaster. An application for an SBA disaster recovery loan may be completed online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster recovery centers are open throughout the state. Residents can find the closest center by using the online locator, here. 

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