CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (Texas DEM) will open Disaster Recovery Centers in Corpus Christi and Alice. Center openings were announced at nine other locations earlier.

The Corpus Christi center will be located at the RTA Building, 1812 Alameda, starting Saturday, September 11 and will remain open until further notice. Hours are 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The Alice center will open Monday, September 13 and operate until Wednesday, September 15 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 500 E. Main Street. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. all three days.

Those who suffered damages or losses as the result of Hurricane Bret are encouraged to first register for assistance by calling the toll-free teleregistration number, 1-800-462-9029. Those with hearing or speech impairments may call TTY 1-800-462-7585 to apply.

Anyone needing further disaster recovery information is urged to visit a center. Representatives of federal, state and voluntary agencies will be on hand to provide information about assistance available to residents of the 13 counties designated disaster areas as a result of the hurricane.

In addition to the Corpus Christi and the Alice Disaster Recovery Centers, centers will open soon at the following locations and dates. Hours are 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, for all centers except for Sinton. The Sinton center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Monday.

• Benavides (Duval County), Sept. 14-16, at Benavides Center, Hwy 359 South.
• Brownsville (Cameron County), Sept. 17-19, at County Courthouse, 954 E. Harrison.
• Laredo (Webb County), Sept. 11-13, at Hwy 359 Centro Comunitario Para la Familia en Larga Vista, 5401 Larga Vista Dr.
• Rockport (Aransas County), Sept. 11-12, at District Court Room, 801 Live Oak.
• Sarita (Kenedy County), Sept 15-17, at Kenedy County Courthouse, 101 Mallory.
• Sinton (San Patricio County), Sept. 11-13, at Wayne Hitt Law Enforcement Center, 300 N. Rachal.

Additionally, Centers remain open at the following addresses:

• Falfurrias (Brooks County), Lacks Furniture Store, 119 W. Rice.
• Kingsville (Kleberg County), Dick Kleberg Park Recreation Building, Escondido Street.
• McAllen (Hidalgo County), Federal Building, 320 N. Main, Suite 101 & 104.

Information about the following types of assistance is available:

• Disaster Housing Assistance, funded and administered by FEMA, for individuals and families whose homes were destroyed or made unlivable as a result of the hurricane. The program provides funding for temporary accommodations or repairs needed to make a home safe, secure and habitable.
  
  
• Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters or business owners for the repair, replacement or rebuilding of disaster-damaged property.
  
  
• Grants, administered by Texas Department of Human Services through the Individual and Family Grant program for people who have serious immediate needs resulting from the disaster that cannot be met by other sources. This program is funded 25 percent by Texas and 75 percent by FEMA.
  
  
• The State Crisis Counseling Program is to assist anyone affected by a serious natural disaster such as Hurricane Bret, to cope. It is to help the community understand that difficulty sleeping, feeling anxious or frustrated, having a hard time con...