Isaac DRCs now open in Ascension, Livingston parishes

GONZALES — A Disaster Recovery Center opened Friday in Ascension Parish to help homeowners, renters and business owners who received damage to their property during Hurricane Isaac, FEMA reported.

Specialists with the state of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors, FEMA officials said in a news release Friday.

The recovery center is located at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Road, Gonzales.

The recovery center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice, FEMA officials said.

The DRC at Lamar-Dixon and another that opened Friday in Satsuma bring to 12 the number of centers operating in Louisiana, FEMA officials said.

Gina Cortez, FEMA spokeswoman, said 1,685 people had applied for FEMA assistance by close of business Thursday in Ascension, 290 in Assumption Parish and 888 in St. James Parish.

She said FEMA officials encourage residents to visit the centers and talk to people about registration, the types of assistance available or the status of their applications.

Ascension and Livingston are among the 18 parishes under the major disaster declaration for Isaac where survivors are eligible for disaster aid known as individual assistance, which includes help with temporary housing and medical needs.

More recovery centers will open as sites are identified and approved, FEMA officials said. For a list of open centers, go online to http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.