Recovery

Community Response Support Program

 

The Community Response Support Program is responsible for information dissemination, collection, and public relations operations used to assist disaster affected communities and survivors in receiving disaster assistance.  This is accomplished by meeting with Palm Beach County citizens and local officials to provide and distribute information and assistance throughout the disaster affected areas.

Palm Beach County volunteers walk door-to-door and business-to business in teams, made up of FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, and Palm Beach County, to reach as many people affected by the disaster as possible to help them register for Federal assistance and explain FEMA programs.  The Community Response Teams rely on information from Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management to locate those with the most pressing needs.

Some people prefer to talk to someone face-to-face, and our door-to-door outreach fills that need for direct contact.

People affected by a disaster do not know there is help available.  This program can assist with reaching people who does not ever know about FEMA.  Many times when this team arrived to homes to let the individual know that help is available, the people find such a relief.

The PBC Community Response Teams is responsible for making direct contact with individuals affected by the disaster in all 38 municipalities.  As they visit homes, schools, businesses and civic groups, they can be clearly recognized by the “Palm Beach County Public Safety Department” logo on their colorful shirts , have identification badges, and they will be carrying disaster assistance information with the phone number and website by which they can register.  These teams will not request any personal information.

Community Response Teams:

  • Direct survivors to resources that can best fit their needs
  • Partners with Small Business Administration and FEMA Mitigation Coordinator
  • Deliver critical information to disaster survivors
  • Identify and report any unmet needs in the community
  • Provide information on types of assistance available

After a disaster or event, the Community Response Teams encourage those who have sustained damages and losses to register as soon as possible by calling FEMA's toll-free Help Line at 800-621-3362to speak to a representative and supply some basic information.

Registration is also available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.  From a cell phone or other mobile device, the address is m.fema.gov.  Those with hearing or speech disabilities can use the TTY number, 800-462-7585. At the website www.DisasterAssistance.gov survivors can get details on more than 60 assistance programs from 14 federal agencies and track the progress of their cases.

 

Recovery Directory: