A Disaster Relief Center was up and running Thursday morning at the Polk County EMA building, located at the Polk Emergency Management Agency, 55 Cline Ingram Jackson Road.

As of Friday, 14 residents from Polk and Floyd Counties had been helped by the center.

Officials with FEMA and GEMA as well as numerous agencies are stationed at the center. Anyone whose property was damaged in the tornado earlier this month may be eligible for aid.

Polk EMA Director Elaine Anderson said that anyone needing a ride to the DRC can call Cedartown Transit for free assistance.

She said the only requirement is that individuals call a day in advance of their pick-up need. The number is 770-749-2020.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 5.

Insured and uninsured residents may be eligible for assistance, according to David C. Daigle, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) communication specialist.

He said that renters, homeowners and business owners may apply. He and customer service specialist Linda Ferguson encourage everyone that suffered damage to sign up. SBA disaster relief is not just for businesses, Daigle explained.

Daigle said that they can provide financial help where insurance coverage stops. He said they work in cooperation with FEMA grants and assistance may be available to individuals with or without insurance coverage.

Around 80 percent of the SBA disaster relief loans are for renters and homeowners, Daigle said.

He hopes all victims will come by, sign up and see if they qualify.

Floyd and Polk county residents must visit the center to get things set up so they can receive financial assistance.

Pete Garcia, FEMA Public Information Officer, said that residents and business owners who sustained losses should begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

A registration number will be issued, and then the applicant can go to the center to apply for federal assistance.

Phone lines will be set up at the relief center for those who do not register over the phone before visiting the center.

Garcia said that individuals with a speech or hearing impairment can call 1-800-462-7585 for TTY assistance.

Local government and insurance representatives, as well as GEMA, FEMA and Small Business Administration disaster relief, will be at the DRC. Mental health and crisis counseling services will also be available.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency said earlier that the March 15 storm damaged 10 Polk County homes and

destroyed four.

Two Cedartown churches, the Church of God and First Bapitst, have assisted with providing funds for hotel rooms for one family, according to Jim Bradshaw, 211 Director.

The 211 organization is an information and referral phone line. They have teamed up with local non-profit organizations to make tornado assistance and donation opportunities more accessible to those needing help and those wanted to help victims, Bradshaw explained.

The 211 database is based in Floyd County and contains listings for approximately 150 non-profits, community organizations, governmental agencies and ministries.