A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Polk County to provide face-to-face assistance to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. The DRC is located at:

First National Bank
1700 West Church
Livingston, TX 77351

The center will be open Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and thereafter from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.

Residents are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC. There are two ways to register: log on to www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.

At the DRC, visitors can:

• Receive information about different types of state and federal disaster assistance.
• Get help completing low-interest loan applications from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters and business owners.
• Inquire about the status of applications for federal assistance.
• Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate unmet needs.
• Learn cost-effective measures to reduce the impact of future disaster losses.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA also are available for residential and business losses not covered by insurance or other sources.