Four disaster recovery centers to open in southern Missouri

Starting Tuesday, Cape Girardeau County residents affected by the recent floods can seek assistance at a FEMA disaster recovery center in Jackson.

It is one of four being opened in Missouri by the federal agency.

Disaster recovery centers will also open in Butler, Stoddard and McDonald counties.

The Jackson site is at the Meavers Shopping Center, 502E W. Main St. It opens at 1 p.m. Tuesday and will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except Sundays.

People will get face-to-face assistance from both Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency officials for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans and how to complete the loan application; smart building techniques to reduce damage from future floods; and flood insurance.

The Stoddard County site is the Knights of Columbus Building, 33925 State Highway 91 in Advance. It has the same hours as the Jackson site, as do the sites in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Noel, Mo.

The recovery centers will stay open until no longer necessary.

Visitors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center. Call FEMA's toll-free registration line, 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585), from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, or register online at www.fema.gov. Registration requires the name listed on the applicant's Social Security card.

Since President Bush issued the disaster declaration for flooded areas in March, FEMA assistance has been provided in 35 counties.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127