Disaster News
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Small Business Administration
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER IN TUSHKA TRANSITIONS TO SBA DISASTER LOAN OUTREACH CENTER
OKLAHOMA CITY– If you live in Atoka County and sustained damage in the April 14 tornado, don’t miss your opportunity to visit the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) if you need assistance.
The DRC in Tushka, operated by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will close on Monday, May 9, 2011.
The good news for those who still need help from the Small Business Administration (SBA) is that a SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) will open in the same location to continue to serve the county.
SBA representatives at a DLOC will continue to provide homeowners, renters, and businesses with one-on-one assistance in completing their loan applications, answering questions about SBA’s loan programs and explaining how an SBA disaster loan can help pay for their disaster losses.
“If you live in Atoka County, we encourage you to stop by the DRC before it closes Monday,” said State Coordinating Officer and Director for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Albert Ashwood. “This center provides many valuable resources that will help survivors start putting their lives back together.”
DRC Closing at Noon Monday, May 9, 2011:
Tushka Town Hall
101 SE 1st Street
Tushka, OK
DLOC Opening at Noon Monday, May 9, 2011:
Tushka Town Hall
101 SE 1st Street
Tushka, OK
The DLOC will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Everyone affected by the April 14 tornado – homeowners, renters, and businesses - should apply for assistance either in person, online or by phone,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “We want to let people know that they may be eligible for assistance for everything from damaged real estate to vehicle and personal property loss.”
“This has been a challenging and difficult time for many residents trying to put their lives back together after this terrible disaster,” said SBA Public Information Officer Michael D. Flores. “The SBA is strongly committed to serving the needs of the people of Atoka County.”
SBA offers low-interest federal disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non‑profit organizations to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed by the disaster.
SBA disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs that cannot be met as a result of the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
For more help, click www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If you have already applied to FEMA and still require assistance, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. The deadline to register for assistance is June 21, 2011.
For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14132 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smart phone at m.fema.gov.
For additional information about SBA disaster assistance, call the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at (800) 659‑2955, or contact SBA by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s Website at www.sba.gov. After registering with FEMA, residents and businesses may access SBA’s online Electronic Loan Application (ELA) through its secure Website at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
The filing deadline for individuals and business owners to return their SBA applications for property damage is June 21, 2011. The EIDL deadline is January 23, 2012.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
