Disaster News

June 26, 2009

STATE/FEMA WILDFIRE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS TO OPEN

OKLAHOMA CITY – State and federal emergency managers today announced that Disaster Recovery Centers will open Monday, June 29 in four Oklahoma communities to assist residents whose homes were destroyed or damaged as a result of wildfires April 9-12, 2009. 

The recovery centers will be operated by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) at the following locations and schedules: 

Midwest City
Eastside Church of Christ                                                                         
916 S. Douglas Blvd. 

Ratliff City
Ratliff City Baptist Church                           
234 Church Street                                              

Opening Monday, June 29
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Thursday

             8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday

Closed Saturday and Sunday for July 4 holiday
Reopening Monday, July 6
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday   

Blanchard
Blanchard Middle School Cafeteria
N.E. 2^nd (Hwy.62) & Tyler 

Wellston
Wellston Town Hall 
211 Cedar Street

Opening Monday, June 29 closing Friday, July 3

Hours: 8a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Thursday

             8a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday

Disaster assistance staff will answer questions and help with registration for disaster assistance and hazard mitigation, assist with disaster loan applications and provide information and contacts for other programs.

Several state agencies, including those offering housing support, insurance information, public health information, and vehicle assistance, also will staff the centers.

If you know of anyone who might be eligible for assistance, please advise them to visit one of the Disaster Recovery Centers.

Before visiting a Disaster Recovery Center, homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the wildfires are urged to register for assistance by calling FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362).  The registration lines are answered 7 a.m. to 12 midnight CDT seven days a week. The TTY number is 800-462-7585.  Applicants also may register on-line at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Officials remind affected residents who have already filled out damage report forms with the state, their county emergency managers, or voluntary agencies that they still must register with FEMA at the above numbers or Web site to be eligible for federal assistance. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses for losses not fully covered by insurance or other compensation. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury. SBA offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.

SBA representatives at the Disaster Recovery Centers will meet individually with each applicant to assist in completing disaster loan applications and to accept completed applications.  It is essential to complete and return the SBA application to ensure that applicants are considered for all disaster assistance programs.

Residents and business owners can receive more information about SBA disaster loans and help with the application process by calling the SBA at 800-659-2955, email at disasterassistance@sba.gov, or visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. The TTY number is 800-877-8339. 

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