Oahu Disaster Recovery Center Transitions To Sba Business Recovery Center
Release Date: May 25, 2006
Release Number: 1640-016
» More Information on Hawaii Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The state/federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Kahala Mall will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration Business Recovery Center (BRC) beginning Tuesday, May 30.
The DRC was originally staffed by federal, state and local officials and by volunteer agencies to provide disaster assistance information and to answer questions from residents and business owners who suffered damages as a result of the severe storms. DRC operations at Kahala Mall will end Saturday, May 27, at close of business, 5 p.m.
Beginning Tuesday, May 30, SBA will re-open as a Business Recovery Center at Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Avenue (in the former Borders Express location) in Honolulu. The BRC will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. SBA Customer Service Representatives will continue to provide individuals and business owners with face-to-face service in completing their loan applications, answering their questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, and explaining how SBA disaster loans can help them pay for their disaster losses.
The SBA Outreach Center at Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy in Kaaawa, will continue to operate with the new hours 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, effective May 30.
On May 30, the SBA Outreach Center in Kaua’i at 4280 Rice Street (the former Hale Kauai Building) in Lihue, will re-open with the hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. All SBA Outreach Centers will be closed Monday, May 29, for Memorial Day.
SBA’s low-interest disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. Federal disaster loans from SBA are the primary source of funds for repairing and rebuilding disaster-damaged private property. Disaster victims are encouraged to visit a center or call the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 if they have any questions about the recovery process.
Anyone in the City and County of Honolulu and Kaua’i County who had damage from the recent severe storms and needs to register for FEMA assistance, has questions about the status of their FEMA application or wants to update information in their file, can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing- or speech-impaired, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Registration can also be done online at www.fema.gov.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 26-May-2006 07:16:15