Disaster News

 

 

DISASTERRECOVERYCENTERSCHEDULES ANNOUNCED, CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY

 

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to reach out to disaster-declared counties, Disaster Recovery Centers’ (DRC) schedules have been adjusted to meet the needs of residents and business owners  in  Blaine, Kiowa, Payne and Seminole Counties, said officials with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). State and federal officials said that all DRCs in Oklahoma will be closed in observance of Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3.

 

Due to the severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on August 18, some projected locations of DRCs had to be changed. “Originally we had planned a mobile DRC at another location in Watonga in Blaine County, but the recent flooding from Tropical Depression Erin made that location unavailable,” said Phil Parr, federal coordinating officer. The Blaine County DRC is tentatively scheduled to open Sept. 6 at the City Hall Auditorium, 117 North Weigle St., Watonga, Okla.from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m.and will remain in operation until the needs of the community are met. At press time, this tentative location was yet to be confirmed.  Disaster Recovery Centers in Kingfisher and Caddo Counties are also being developed.

 

Representatives of state, federal and voluntary agencies will be available to answer questions and provide recovery information. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.

 

The schedule for upcoming Disaster Recovery Centers follows:

 

DRCs are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

                                                           

August 30- Sept. 4, closed for Labor Day, Sept. 3

Kiowa County

Public Works Building

Community Room

410 S. Washington

Hobart, OK73651

 

August 30-Sept. 4, closed for Labor Day, Sept. 3

Seminole County

City of Seminole

Community Room

Jimmy Austin Golf Course

1605 N. Main St.

Seminole, OK74868

 

Opening Sept. 6 (Blaine County, Tentative location yet to be finalized)

Blaine County

City Hall Auditorium

117 North Weigle St.

Watonga, OK73772

 

Sept. 10-15

Payne County

Stillwater Public Library

1107 S. Duck

Stillwater, OK74074

 

Before visiting any of the DRCs, disaster victims are urged to register for assistance by calling          1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or on-line at www.fema.gov <http://www.fema.gov/> . The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. Those who have questions may visit a DRC to meet with disaster recovery specialists.

 

SBA Customer Service Representatives are at the DRC to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each individual and business owner complete their application.

 

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for losses not fully covered by insurance. The SBA may loan up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Up to $1.5 million is available for uncompensated business disaster losses.

                                   

Residents and business owners can receive information about SBA disaster loans and help with the application process by calling the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

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