The Federal Emergency Managment Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is opening a "one stop shop" for disaster assistance in Rockdale County at 1400 Parker Road starting Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The disaster recovery center will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays until further notice.

Flood survivors can get information about individual disaster assistance and can start the the process of applying for indivdual FEMA disaster assistance by registering with FEMA. Individuals may also apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Help in all languages is available.

Aid is not restricted to particular residences or zip codes but available to all areas of Rockdale and Newton County, according to center workers.

Once registered, disaster recovery specialists at the recovery center can check an individual's case, answer questions about their claim, or review information needed to process their claim. Recovery specialists also can supply contacts for other programs that may be able to help.

The center will also have representatives from the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Georgia Insurance Commissioner.

For families already eligible and receiving food stamps, Lynne Boring with the Rockdale County Department of Family and Children's Services DFACS said they will be able to provide replacement stamps on site.

April Fallon, with Rockdale County Public Schools, advises families that have been displaced and are staying in temporary locations that they will arrange school transportation even if they're not staying in their former districts. She suggests they contact the principal at their child's school to make arrangements.

Current estimates are that 35-50 families have been displaced in Rockdale county due to flood damage. Of these, approximately eight are still in temporary shelter provided by Rockdale Emergency Relief, according to Ashley Roesler, executive director. Among the mounting obstacles they face are transportation challenges getting to and from work.

Rockdale Emergency Relief is operating as the "hub" for local disaster assistance, especially for families that do not qualify for FEMA assistance.

To make a donation, contact Rockdale Emergency Relief at 770-922-0165. The United Way has designated a fund specifically for Rockdale Disaster Relief and can be reached at 678-623-2890.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be at the disaster center to answer any questions about the SBA's low-interest disaster loan program for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by the storms and flooding.

Representatives will help complete and accept SBA disaster loan applications. Anyone not able to go to a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, toll-free at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance, or visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

This center is the 10th disaster recovery center set up in a flood-affected county in the metro-Atlanta area.

For more information on Georgia's disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.gema.ga.gov or www.ready.ga.gov or http://twitter.com/GeorgiaEMA or www.afcema.com. Further information may be obtained on the Rockdale County website, www.rockdalecounty.org.