Agencies to open disaster recovery center in wake of flooding
In the midst of recent flooding, the federal and state emergency management agencies will open a disaster recovery center in McDonald County Wednesday.
The center will be located at the Noel Fire Department and will open at 1 p.m.
Wednesday. It will then be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, except for Sundays.
Centers have also been established in Butler, Cape Girardeau and Stoddard counties.
The centers will be open until no longer necessary, FEMA officials said.
Visitors should register with FEMA prior to visiting the center. This can be done by calling the agency's toll-free hot line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, or online at www.fema.gov. Registrants should use their name as it appears on their Social Security card.
A presidential disaster declaration was made in mid-March, with FEMA individual assistance available for the following counties: Bollinger, Butler, Calloway, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Christian, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Howard, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, St. Louis, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne and Webster.
Visitors to the center will find information on federal and state disaster assistance programs, federal Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans and how to complete the loan application, smart building techniques to reduce damage in future floods and flood insurance.
If you've registered for disaster assistance with FEMA, expect a phone call from one of the agencies representatives to inspect the damage, officials said.
"On-site inspections are an important early step that helps speed aid to homeowners and renters affected by the recent flooding," said Jackie Chandler, public information officer with FEMA, in a prepared statement.
Those registering with FEMA will be assigned a registration number. Inspectors will have proper identification and will be able to verify the number assigned to each registrant. The inspection is free.
"Be aware of the potential for fraud," she said. "Only a FEMA inspector will have the number that was provided during registration."
When the inspector calls, people should provide a clear and accurate description of the damaged property and a current telephone number where they can be reached. A street address is also needed.
According to FEMA officials, registrants do not have to wait for the inspector before beginning repairs. Photos, contractor estimates, and receipts can be provided to FEMA inspectors to document the extent of the damage.
Inspections generally take 30 to 45 minutes and includes all areas of your home and personal property. The inspector enters damage related information into a handheld computer and sends that data electronically to FEMA. The inspector doesn't determine if a person is eligible for assistance, or the amount of a FEMA grant the individual might receive.
Neosho Daily News