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FEMA sets up DeKalb flood HQ

By Ty Tagami
Oct 2, 2009

People who lost property to flooding in DeKalb County last week now have a one-stop shop to file all their paperwork and get information.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has selected the Browns Mill Recreation Center in south DeKalb as its disaster recovery headquarters, said Shelia Edwards, a spokeswoman for county CEO Burrell Ellis.

FEMA and its state and local counterparts will set up offices there, along with other crucial agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA will give low-interest loans to businesses and homeowners who need help with repairs.

The recreation center is located at 5101 Browns Mill Road in Lithonia. The disaster recovery center will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and from noon to 7 p.m. Sundays, Edwards said.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

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