A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened today in Brookhaven, anagency official said.

Nicolas Britto, a public information officer with the FederalEmergency Management Agency, said the Disaster Recovery Center, orDRC, will pool representatives from several agencies with programsto assist the victims of disasters. Typical DRCs includerepresentatives from the Small Business Administration, SocialSecurity Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, amongothers, and can provide crisis management information or legaladvice.

“The purpose of the DRC is to have a place where people can comein and register with FEMA or check the status on their claims. Andwith the other agencies there, it’s like one-stop shopping,” Brittosaid.

The DRC is located in the old Bill’s Dollar Store on SchwemAvenue and it will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, thosehours are subject to change depending on demand, Britto said.

Britto could not say how long the office would be open but addedthat it “would be here until the end – until everyone is taken careof.”

Claims can still be registered by phone at 1-800-621-3362 oronline at www.fema.gov, he said.

Once registered, applicants will be given a registrationconfirmation number and will use that number at the DRC to check onthe status of or facilitate their claims.