FLOOD AID OFFICE TO BE IN JACKSON

JACKSON -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a disaster application center Sunday at the Missouri Army National Guard Armory, 224 West Park St. in Jackson.

The center will be open for three days -- Sunday, Monday and Tuesday -- to accept in person or by telephone requests for assistance from individuals and families whose properties were damaged by flash flooding and storms Nov. 13-19.

The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday and from 8-12 noon Tuesday. Those who cannot apply in person may call the toll-free disaster application number, 1-800-462-9029. Persons with TDD equipment can call 1-800-462-7585.

On Dec. 1 the 14 counties of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Francois, St. Louis, Shannon and Wayne counties were declared eligible for disaster assistance by the president.

FEMA public information officer Earl Armstrong said Friday that 986 applications for assistance had been received at FEMA application centers in the 14-county region since Dec. 1.

"Everyone whose home or livelihood has been affected by the flash flooding or storms in mid-November is encouraged to visit or call the Jackson application center," said Armstrong. "At the Jackson center, people can get one-on-one assistance from the variety of federal and state programs that have been triggered as a result of the disaster declaration."

Armstrong emphasized individuals do not have to be residents of Cape Girardeau County to apply at Jackson. "Anyone who lives within the 14-county disaster declaration area may apply at our Jackson center," he said.

When visiting or calling the center, Armstrong said individuals should be prepared to give the registrar their name, address, and Social Security number. They also will be asked if there was any kind of insurance on their damaged or destroyed property.

Said Armstrong: "It should take about 20 minutes to complete the application. In addition to direct FEMA assistance, victims may also be referred to other agencies such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army, or the Missouri Housing Development Commission for additional assistance.

"Others may be referred to the Small Business Administration for SBA loans. Those who are referred to the SBA will be given an application kit, which must be filled out and returned to the SBA as soon as possible to complete the application process."

Armstrong said SBA loans are not limited to small businesses; individuals may also apply for SBA loans.

He said other flood or storm victims may be referred to the Individual and Family Grant Program, which is administered by the state.

"Many disaster victims mistakenly believe if they have applied to the Red Cross or Salvation Army for emergency assistance they have also automatically applied for assistance from FEMA," said Armstrong. "This is not true. There are only two ways to apply for FEMA assistance: either by applying in person at one of our assistance centers or by applying through our disaster application phone number.

"I strongly urge anyone who has been affected by the flash flooding and storms that occurred in November to apply at this time."

Armstrong said those who suffered property damage or loss from the flood of 1993, and have not yet applied for FEMA assistance, have until Jan. 15 to submit their application.