Ramona Disaster Recovery Center To Close Saturday, December 20; Will Reopen As A U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Center
Release Date: December 18, 2003
Release Number: 1498-53
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PASADENA, Calif. -- The Disaster Recovery Center located at the Ramona Old Post Office Building, 325 Sixth Street, Ramona, Calif., will close Saturday, December 20, and will reopen as a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Center on Monday, December 22. The SBA Disaster Center will be located at the Ramona Community Resource Center, Health and Human Services Agency, 1521 Main Street in Ramona.
The Disaster Recovery Center, originally operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), and the U.S. Small Business Administration is being converted to an SBA Disaster Center to meet the increased demand for SBA loans.
“SBA personnel will be available at the center Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, through Friday, January 23,” said Alfred E. Judd, SBA Disaster Area Director. The center will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s days.
“The new SBA Disaster Center in Ramona will continue to meet the needs of residents who suffered losses during the recent wildfires,” said FEMA’s William Carwile, III, the federal coordinating officer for the Southern California wildfires disaster.
The disaster assistance centers in Alpine, Julian, San Bernardino, Scripps Recreation Center, and Valley Center will remain in operation, Carwile added. Their hours will continue to be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9.a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, through December 24. They will be closed only on the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, December 25 and January 1. On December 26, their hours will become 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. For addresses and further information, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or, for persons who have speech or hearing impairments, TTY 1-800-462-7585. The lines are staffed 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
“Individuals who suffered losses in the Southern California wildfires and have not yet registered for assistance should do so now,” said Dallas Jones, OES director and state coordinating officer for the disaster recovery effort. “The January 9 deadline is approaching quickly.”
FEMA and state disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss, disaster officials noted. If you have insurance, FEMA and state programs may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy. You should contact your insurance agent in addition to calling the FEMA registration number. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other forms of help may come in the form of low-interest loans from the SBA.
At the Ramona SBA Disaster Center, SBA representatives will provide individuals and business owners with face-to-face service in completing their loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s loan program, and show how an SBA disaster loan can help pay for their disaster losses. Informational materials will continue to be available on federal/state programs such as the Individual and Household Program and the Hazard Mitigation Program.
Low interest disaster loans from SBA are available to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes as well as certain private, non-profit organizations. Disaster loans from SBA are the primary source of funds for repairing and rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.
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 cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The office is responsible for ensuring California’s readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and war-caused emergencies, and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery efforts.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 19-Dec-2003 10:32:28