Miss. DRC’s to Close for New Year’s Holiday, Reopen on Jan. 3

Disaster Recovery Centers throughout Mississippi will close at 6 p.m. Dec. 30, 2005 in observance of the New Year’s holiday, according to state and federal officials.

The centers will reopen Jan. 3, 2006 and resume normal hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and continue to be closed on Sundays. The centers serve individuals and families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

People affected by Hurricane Katrina are urged to register for assistance before visiting a Disaster Recovery Center by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech-or hearing-impaired or by going online at www.fema.gov. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Jan. 11, 2006.

Representatives of state, federal and voluntary agencies will be on hand to answer questions and provide recovery information. Officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to discuss disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.