Columbia, S.C. – The State of South Carolina and FEMA will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Florence County on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Disaster Recovery Centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in the counties included in the South Carolina major disaster declaration for Hurricane Florence and the subsequent floods.

The new disaster center is located at:

Florence County
Howe Springs Fire Station #5
4395 S. Irby Street
Florence, SC 29505
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sat-Sun, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Recovery specialists from the State of South Carolina, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be at the center to talk about assistance and assist survivors who need help finding recovery resources.

SBA disaster assistance employees are committed to helping businesses and residents rebuild as quickly as possible. They are available to answer questions about SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program and help business owners and residents apply to the SBA.

The centers are accessible to people with disabilities. Centers have assistive technology equipment allowing disaster survivors to use amplified telephones, phones that display text, amplified listening devices for people with hearing loss, and magnifiers for people with vision loss. Recovery information is also available in Braille. Video Remote Interpreting is available and in-person sign language is available by request. The centers also have accessible parking, ramps and restrooms.

Homeowners, renters and businesses can also check their eligibility for federal, state and voluntary agency disaster assistance available by:

• Visiting the Disaster Assistance Webpage
• Calling 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585); or
• Using the FEMA app, available for Apple and Android mobile devices.

The following information is helpful when registering:

• Address of the location where the damage occurred (pre-disaster address)
• Current mailing address
• Current telephone number
• Insurance information
• Total household annual income
• Routing and account number for checking or savings account (this allows direct transfer of funds into a bank account)
• A description of disaster-caused damage and losses

Disaster survivors can visit any center for assistance. Visit Fema's DRC Page to view other locations.

South Carolina homeowners, renters and business owners in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Marlborocounties may apply for disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from Hurricane Florence.