The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Mitchell Senior Center in Ledger, will be permanently closing as of 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, according to Mitchell County officials.
“The DRC opened in Ledger back in October,” said Allen Cook, Mitchell County manager. “It has served as an in-person point of contact for citizens to get FEMA assistance. Visits to the center are recorded daily. Since December the customer numbers have steadily declined.”
The Center was established to serve individuals impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. At the DRC, representatives from federal agencies like FEMA and the Small Business Administration have assisted walk-in clients with registrations, resources, and questions.
As recovery progresses, it is common for disaster recovery centers to close. Even though the center in Ledger will soon be closing, FEMA and disaster assistance will still be available via phone, internet and in person by appointment.
The DRC has been housed in the Mitchell Senior Center. With the influx of new staff and customers from the DRC, the senior center operations have been impacted.
“Our seniors have not been able to fully utilize their center since the storm,” said Cook. “Kathy Garland and her staff have been working hard to accommodate our citizens and host the staff at the DRC. It is now time for our seniors to have access back to the resources, services and fellowship that are essential to their recovery.”
As the five-month anniversary of Helene striking Western North Carolina approaches, adjustments such as closing the DRC and other changes are beginning to be made. But that does not mean that Mitchell County residents will lose access to federal programs and agencies.
Residents still have several ways to get help from federal agencies. FEMA can be accessed online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by their toll-free hotline at 800-621-3362. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is available online at sba.gov, by phone at 800-659-2955, or by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
FEMA still has other Disaster Resource Centers open in the area, and Mitchell County residents are welcome to use these locations for face-to-face meetings. Centers are currently located in Burnsville, Newland, Marion, and Boone, where help is available just like what is offered at the DRC in Ledger.
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is March 8.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is also offering Disaster Case Management services that will help residents make a plan to meet needs, find resources, and deal with challenges in getting things done. For information on these services, visit ncdps.gov/helene/dcm or call (844) 748-2326.
The public can always find the latest information on Mitchell County’s Helene recovery efforts at wearemitchell.org, on the We Are Mitchell podcast available for download, on the Mitchell County Government page on Facebook, and on local and regional media such as the Mitchell News-Journal and WTOE Radio.