The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will close its disaster recovery center at Paulding Senior/Community Center at 7 p.m. Friday.

Residents still needing assistance can register by calling FEMA and then visit a disaster recovery center in a nearby county. Disaster recovery centers remain open at Heritage Baptist Church, 8800 Rose Ave. in Douglasville, and The Threadmill, Suite 151, 5000 Austell/Powder Springs Road in Austell.

FEMA public information officer Tim Tyson said some residents may not have registered for FEMA assistance because of myths that include the following:

“I have insurance.” Even those with insurance may be eligible for assistance.

“I have too much income.” There are no income limits for those applying for disaster assistance.

“I don’t want to take money from others.” There are enough disaster funds to meet the needs of every eligible applicant.

“I don’t have enough damage.” Total cost of recovery may not be known for months, well after the registration deadline.

“I can’t afford a cut in other payments.” Disaster assistance grants are not considered taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid and other programs.

Paulding Board of Commissioners Chairman David Austin praised the flood response of county employees at yesterday’s commission meeting.

“I want to thank the county staff for performing their jobs to an excellent level,” he said, adding that employees “went above and beyond the call of duty. I want to thank [County Administrator] Mike Jones and [Water System Director] Michael Carter for the hard work they did, working in excess of 80-hour weeks.”

Austin also thanked Georgia’s congressional delegation for writing to President Obama to get Paulding declared a disaster area eligible for federal assistance.

David Mumford, 911 Center director, said the center received 980 calls during the first 36 hours of the flood Sept. 20-21. To provide context, he said the center “usually gets 750 fire calls within a month.”

Paulding DOT Director Scott Greene said that “three weeks ago, 70 roads were impassible, and we’re down to 11 now.” All except two roads should be restored within two weeks, he said, and more than 100 sites that suffered minor damage are being assessed.

Greene said all county departments typically pull together to address such emergencies.