Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2005-05-27, Gov. Easley Announces Operation Brighter Day Continues As Hurricane Season Begins: Nearly2,400 Applicatons Have Been Filed For Disaster Assistance Statewide Since Program Began

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Jill Warren Lucas Date: May 27, 2005 Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES OPERATION BRIGHTER DAY CONTINUES AS HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS Nearly2,400 Applicatons Have Been Filed for Disaster Assistance Statewide Since Pro era in Began RALEIGH - With the start of the 2005 hurricane season just days away, Gov. Mike Easley reminds victims of the 2004 hurricane season that they have until June 17 to apply for assistance through Operation Brighter Day, the one-stop application program operating in the 50 disaster-declared counties. “The new hurricane season begins on June 1,” Easley said. “As we prepare for it, I encourage those who still have uninsured losses from the 2004 storms to apply for all available aid programs.” Hurricane victims can submit one application to cover all available individual assistance programs at Recovery Application Centers (RACs), which are located in N.C. Cooperative Extension Service centers in each of the 50 disaster-declared counties covered by the Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005. So far, nearly 2,400 applications for individual assistance have been filed at RACs or by calling the Governor’s Hurricane Recovery Bilingual Hotline toll free at 1-888-835-9966 (TTY, 1-877-452-2514). Between April 22 and close of day Thursday, 2,356 applications had been received from people living in the 50 disaster-declared counties. This includes 824 requests for housing damage, 745 for damage to private driveways and bridges, and 787 for agricultural loss. For a county-by-county breakdown of the number of applications filed, visit www.OperationBrighterDav.org. Contact information for local RACs can be found online at www.ces.ncsu.edu/counties. Applications also may be filed by calling the Governor’s Hurricane Recovery Bilingual Hotline between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. ### NOTE: The Operation Brighter Day logo is available on the program’s website: www.OperationBrighterDay.org. Governor's Press Office State Capitol. Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166