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Tampa, St. Pete open centers to assist residents applying for FEMA support

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg announced that they will open several community centers beginning Thursday to facilitate the application process for citizens applying to FEMA for financial assistance after being adversely impacted by Hurricane Irma.

The city also announced that their own Housing & Community Development Division will be accepting applications for its Disaster Recovery Program. The period is open until funds are exhausted.

The FEMA registration center at 6090 Central Avenue will also open again Thursday from 5 – 8 p.m.

Officials estimate that approximately 400 people attended Wednesday, with 300 meals served. Heavy’s Food Truck will again be on site at 6 p.m. to provide free hot meals while supplies last. Anyone needing transportation should call 727-347-1930 starting at 4:30 p.m.

Anyone needing transportation should call 727-347-1930 starting at 4:30 p.m.

St. Petersburg businessman Bill Edwards, in partnership with the NAACP St. Petersburg Branch, Representative Wengay “Newt” Newton and former St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker have organized the FEMA Disaster Recovery Registration Site.

The site will have power, multiple computers with internet access and limited phone charging stations. Volunteers will be on hand to assist residents with the registration process.

Heavy’s Food Truck will also be on site providing free hot meals while supplies last.

“Rick Baker came to me with a need,” Edwards said. “We were spared the worst of Irma, but people in St. Petersburg are still hurting and in need of assistance. Without power or internet it’s impossible. I am happy to open my doors to give people the chance to apply for aid. The sooner people get help, the sooner they can get their lives back to normal, and that’s what we are all hoping for.”

Registration is estimated to take approximately twenty minutes and residents need to have the following information to complete the registration application:

— Social Security Number (SSN)

— The primary applicant’s SSN or

— The SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien.

The offices of four Tampa centers (listed below) will be open from 9 a.m to 5  p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m to 7 p.m. all next week. For more information go to Tampagov.net.

Here are the addresses of the four centers:

TMOB

306 E. Jackson Street

Tampa, FL  33602

Daily (excluding weekends)

Hunt Center at Al Lopez Park

4810 N. Himes Avenue

Tampa, 33614

9-5 Thursday, 9-5 Friday

David M Barksdale Center

1801 N. Lincoln Avenue

Tampa, 33607

9-5 Thursday, 9-5 Friday and 9-5 Saturday

NFL Yet Center Jackson Heights Center

3310 E. Lake Avenue

Tampa, 33610

9-5 Thursday, 9-5 Friday and 9-5 Saturday

 

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Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served as five years as the political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. He also was the assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley. He's a San Francisco native who has now lived in Tampa for 15 years and can be reached at [email protected]

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