Two months after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the state,many area residents are continuing to seek assistance with homerepairs and other recovery efforts.

More than 7,235 people have registered through the FederalEmergency Management Agency for disaster relief in Lincoln County,said Lynn Kimbrough, a public information officer for the agency.The total includes registrations made online and over thetelephone.

The Brookhaven FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened the firstweek of October. Already, Kimbrough said, more than 1,735 visitshave been logged at the center by people making late claims,checking on the status of an existing claim or seeking furtherassistance.

Centers in Monticello and Hazlehurst opened two weeks later. Acenter in McComb was opened a few weeks before Brookhaven’s.

Visits to the Brookhaven DRC are beginning to drop as claims arecompleted, Kimbrough said.

The centers are still in place to assist those who need them,Kimbrough said. Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondaythrough Saturday.

Representatives of state, federal and volunteer agencies are onsite to answer questions and provide recovery information.Officials from the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) are alsoavailable to discuss disaster loans for homeowners, renters andbusinesses of all sizes. Written materials about various assistanceprograms are also available.