FEMA OFFICIALS LOOKING AT FLOOD AREAS IN COUNTY

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials toured the Red Star, Smelterville and Dutchtown areas Friday to get a visual image of how the flood of 1995 affected Cape Girardeau County.

"I want something to go with the paperwork that comes across my desk to provide a rapid and compassionate response to the people who have been affected by disasters," said John Miller, Region VII director of FEMA.

City officials provided Miller and FEMA official Phil Kirk with pertinent data and the history of homes and businesses affected by the flood as they led them through the areas hit hardest by the flood.

Brian Miller, Cape Girardeau County emergency preparedness coordinator, said he welcomes the kind of tour FEMA officials took Friday. "Now we can say `You've seen what kind of damage we're talking about, now write us a check,'" Miller said.

John Miller said he sees a different disaster picture this year compared to the flood of 1993. "This time around I think everybody is blaming the victim," he said.

"Even though many of the people affected by the flood are different than those who were hit in 1993," he said. "The general public just doesn't seem to have the same sympathy it showed two years ago. They're saying these people should have learned from the last flood."

Thus, federal agencies like FEMA must find ways to bridge the gap to put disaster victims back on their feet. "It's tours like these, where we get out and talk to the people and the city workers, that help us learn how to do our jobs a little better," John Miller said.

He added that the tours will also help FEMA provide long-term assistance for disaster victims. "Many times it's what you do six months down the road that has a more critical effect that what happens in the first week or month," he said.

FEMA officials are telling flood victims to use the hotline number to register their claims. "It's something new, therefore it's going to take a little time for people to get used to," John Miller said.

Some 2,000 flood and tornado victims have used the hotline number thus far. The FEMA regional director said he anticipates more than 3,500 victims are eligible for some type of state and federal assistance.

"What they need to know is that we can only help those who call us and give information about insurance and how much damage they received," John Miller said.

Missourians with damage resulting from severe storms, tornadoes, hail and flooding that occurred on or after May 13 can register for assistance by calling 1-800-462-9029 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. seven days a week. The number for speech or hearing impaired victims is 1-800-462-7585.

Victims who have established temporary residence at a relative's home or motel should call FEMA and let them know where they are going to be until they can move back into their permanent residence.

The more information we get, the better are the chances of FEMA helping disaster victims, Kirk said.