Photo: AFP
FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers along Florida's Treasure Coast to help those impacted by Hurricane Milton and its tornadoes that caused death and destruction.
"All those centers will have FEMA representatives where they can register for assistance, or if they've registered they can find out the status of their claims."
Agency spokesperson Renee Bafalis says there's no set timeline for how long the centers in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties will remain open.
"These centers will be in the area and will be working with the survivors as long as the need is here in the community."
She says they give residents an opportunity to meet face-to-face with officials who can get them all the information they need.
The Centers have opened in Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties.
"If you've received any letters from FEMA saying what your eligibility is and you have questions concerning those letters, we ask you to come in to those centers and meet with an official."
Bafalis has a warning however. She says the agency has people going door-to-door, but knows there will be scammers too.
"FEMA officials will be wearing FEMA uniforms and will have FEMA identifications. Please make sure that you don't give your pertinent information to anybody that does not represent a federal agency and provide you with identification."
The Disaster Recovery Centers in Stuart, Fort Pierce and Vero Beach are open Monday through Sunday and FEMA representatives are at a Palm Beach County multi-agency resource center in Wellington. But Bafalis says FEMA is in the process of deciding where and how to open a Disaster Recovery Center in Palm Beach County. She says it could be a mobile site and will update us once the decisions are made.