Recovery center opens at facilities building

On Wednesday of this week, FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery at the Macon County Community Facilities Building on 441 South. FEMA representatives will be available at the center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., through at least Friday, Sept. 24. Spanish interpreters will be provided at the site. Residents must call the toll-free FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to begin the application process.

If residents have not called this number when they arrive at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, they will be directed to a phone and instructed to call at that time. Residents will have 60 days from Sept. 16 to file a claim with FEMA through the 1-800-621-FEMA number.

If you have a claim, take photographs of damaged property and possessions before beginning the clean-up and replacement process. These photographs will document the losses for FEMA and your insurance claims.

Other agencies present at the Disaster Recovery Center will be:

* NC Employment Security Commission

* Department of Social Services

* American Red Cross

* Salvation Army

* N.C. Baptist Men (to assist with debris removal and re-building)

* Macon Program for Progress

* Various religious groups

* Mental health representatives

* Health department

* A table with information from various other government, religious, and charitable organizations

Residents in need of transportation to the center may call Macon Area Transit Service at 349-2222 for free transportation to the site. For general information concerning the services available at the Disaster Recovery Center, call 349-2090 from 8 am to 8 pm.

Community building closed

The Macon County Community Facilities Building will be closed until further notice. All events scheduled will be canceled. FEMA will be using the building as long as necessary.