(Lawrenceville, Ga., Sept. 8, 2005) – Beginning tomorrow at 9 a.m., people displaced by Hurricane Katrina will have a multi-agency assistance center to help meet their social service and other needs. The center will operate seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

A former Wal-Mart store at 455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville will house staff from at least seven government agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Georgia’s Department of Driver Services will resolve driver’s license questions and the Department of Family and Children Services will have answers about food stamps and family support. Other state and local agencies will help evacuees with housing, education, senior citizen, transit, employment and mental health issues.

The American Red Cross is the lead agency setting up the facility, with 300 tables, 1,200 chairs, plus telephones, copiers and fax machines. About 300 people will be working at the Gwinnett location, termed the American Red Cross Joint Resource Recovery Center. Call 770.822.7425 for automated information, including directions to the center. Childcare will be available while parents conduct business with the different agencies.

Gwinnett County bought the 135,000 square-foot building last month with plans to use it for records storage, a public health clinic and environmental health offices.

“Now there is a tremendous need right here in our area for many different agencies to assist hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are starting over with nothing after the storm,” Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said. “We happened to have a large, empty building that we can make available temporarily and the Board agreed to postpone meeting our own space needs in order to help these people.”

Officials with the County’s Emergency Management Agency are trying to gauge the number of hurricane victims being housed in private homes and other shelters throughout Gwinnett County. Hosts are encouraged to call 678.518.4847 to report head counts and the various needs of the evacuees.

Gwinnett County will also host a job fair on Friday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. Prospective employers will include Coca-Cola, UPS, Marriott Gwinnett Place, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Lake Lanier Islands, Gwinnett Medical Center and various temporary agencies in addition to the county government and Gwinnett public schools. Residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are especially welcome. Call 770.822.7915 for more information.

With hundreds of homeless survivors of Hurricane Katrina now in the county, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to “take any and all actions necessary and feasible to assist the victims.”

The Board noted that emergency circumstances exist requiring extraordinary and immediate action for the protection and safety of the evacuees. A state of emergency is in effect for all Georgia counties that may make disaster relief funding available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In its resolution, the Board expressed a desire to “do its part to provide assistance” and a recognition that County resources will be affected by efforts to provide support. County Administrator Jock Connell received authorization to negotiate contracts and to deliver services to help relieve the suffering of Gulf Coast residents displaced by the storm.

Bannister added that he is “pleased that we are able to help out in an emergency. Our building will provide space for many agencies to work together all in one place. And the job fair will help evacuees find jobs here and hopefully start a new life in Gwinnett County.”

Getting to the American Red Cross Joint Resource Recovery Center at455 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045

Driving directions

From I-85:

Take I-85 North to GA 316 East. Go 2.0 miles on GA 316, take Sugarloaf Parkway exit and turn right. Go 4.8 miles on Sugarloaf Parkway to GA 124 and turn left. Go 1.8 miles on GA 124 to Gwinnett Drive and turn right. Go 0.4 miles on Gwinnett Drive to Resource Recovery Center on right. The Resource Recovery Center is in a former Wal-Mart store at 455 Grayson Highway (GA 20).

From Loganville:

Take GA 20 North (Pecan Street) north toward Lawrenceville. Go 9 miles on GA 20 to the Resource Recovery Center on the left. The Resource Recovery Center is in a former Wal-Mart store at 455 Grayson Highway (GA 20).

From Snellville:

Take GA 124 North. Go 6.1 miles on GA 124 and turn right on Gwinnett Drive SW. Go 0.4 miles on Gwinnett Drive to Resource Recovery Center on right. The Resource Recovery Center is in a former Wal-Mart store at 455 Grayson Highway (GA 20).

Transit directions

Traveling to the American Red Cross Joint Resource Recovery Center :

Board the MARTA Northeast line train, be certain it is marked Doraville. Get off the train at the Doraville station (NE 10) where you will transfer to the  Gwinnett County Transit bus marked  Route #10  and ask the driver for a transfer. No paper transfer or fare is required when transferring within the MARTA station, but you will need this transfer later on. Take the #10 bus to the Gwinnett Transit Center at Gwinnett Place Mall where you will then board the #40 bus, handing the transfer to the driver as you do so. This bus will take you to the front door of the service center. If you have questions or are uncertain anywhere along the way, ask your driver, who will be glad to assist you.

Leaving the American Red Cross Joint Resource Recovery Center:

Board the Route #40 bus, deposit your fare or show your Gwinnett County bus pass and request a transfer from the driver. The #40 will take you to the Gwinnett Transit Center at Gwinnett Place Mall where you will board the #10 bus, which will take you to the Doraville MARTA station where you will again board the train. (The MARTA Doraville Station is the end of the Northeast line so all trains from there go south and are marked  AIRPORT ) The main transfer point for MARTA trains is at FIVE POINTS Station if you need to transfer to an East or West bound train you would do so there.

Gwinnett County Transit Information: 770.822.5010

MARTA information: 404.848.5000