Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have arrived in Memphis to assist those affected by last week’s tornados. FEMA will open a Disaster Relief Center tomorrow in the Hickory Hill area.

“We appreciate the assistance being offered from FEMA . It will go a long way to help hundreds of storm victims throughout Hickory Hill and other areas of Shelby County,” said Bob Nations, Director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness.

The center will open at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning at the Hickory Hill Community Center at 3910 Ridgeway. FEMA representatives will be there until 7 o’clock each evening to talk with storm victims about how they can apply for assistance.

To speed up the process, FEMA urges victims to first register on line or by phone to get a special control number. With the number, FEMA can more easily answer questions about the assistance.

To register, victims need to call: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Or, victims may register on line with FEMA by going to the website: www.fema.gov <http://www.fema.gov/>

The Red Cross and Salvation Army will also be at the Hickory Hill Community Center tomorrow to assist victims with food and other supplies. For additional information call the Emergency Operations Center at the Memphis and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency at (901) 515-2525.

Prepared by:
Steve Shular, Public Affairs Officer
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office