Disaster Recovery Center opens Monday

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – The Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies (FEMA and SEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Farmington for six days beginning Monday, July 20 at 1 p.m. The center will provide resources for people affected by the May 8 – 16 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

 Hours of operation for the center will be: Monday, July 20 from 1 – 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25 will be the last day of business for the center. The DRC address is: Farmington Regional Airport, 1436 Perrine Road, Farmington, MO 63640.

Before visiting the DRC, people are encouraged to register for disaster assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov  or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), (TTY) 800-462-7585. Phone registration is available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Help in languages other than English is offered.

After registering with FEMA, it is not necessary to visit a DRC. The centers are provided for those who may want to speak in person with a disaster recovery specialist.

DRC services include checking the status of a claim, getting answers to questions about the recovery status and reviewing information FEMA needs to process an individual’s claim. Recovery specialists also can supply contacts for other programs that may be available for further assistance.

In addition, Customer Service Representatives (CSR) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be at the centers to answer questions about the SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by the severe storms May 8 – 16.

SBA CSRs will help complete and accept disaster loan applications. Anyone who cannot visit a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, toll-free at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance or visit the SBA Web site at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance .

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, nationality, age, disability, English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY Call 800-462-7585.