A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open for four days only, from Monday, Dec. 10 to Thursday, Dec. 13, in Decatur County to assist Georgia residents who suffered damages and property loss due to Hurricane Michael.

Thursday, Dec. 13, is also the deadline for Georgians affected by Hurricane Michael to register for assistance. Anyone impacted by the hurricane who hasn’t yet registered should do so as soon as possible.

Survivors who are insured, uninsured, or underinsured are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before visiting a DRC. FEMA grants and SBA loans may be able to help cover survivors’ underinsured damaged property and destroyed essential items.

If an applicant is insured, he/she is strongly encouraged to first file a claim with their insurance company, and then register for disaster assistance with FEMA.

A DRC provides residents an opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from the State of Georgia, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as other federal partners. Recovery specialists can answer questions about temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of damaged personal property, and other disaster-related needs, such as medical, dental, or transportation costs not covered by insurance or other programs.

The new center is located at The Agricultural Center Fairgrounds at 1211 Vada road in Bainbridge. The hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eligible applicants can register for assistance by calling: (800) 621-3362, or applying online at: disasterassistance.gov. The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing-impaired. Survivors who are unable to register for assistance before visiting a DRC are welcome to use the center’s phone banks and computers.