Recovery Centers To Close Soon
Release Date: July 6, 2004
Release Number: 1523-036
» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Martin and Magoffin counties will be closing next week. The Martin County center will cease operations at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 and the Magoffin DRC will close at 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, July 14.
Residents and business owners who have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster assistance are encouraged to come to the centers to track where their applications stand, ask questions, and get help with paperwork.
The two centers currently open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week are located at:
- Inez Middle School, 5001 Middle School Drive, Inez;
- Teen Scene, 1 Hornet Drive, Salyersville.
“If you have recently registered and have any questions, visit a center,” says Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Pat Seaman of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “If you haven’t registered, call now. Then come in to have face-to-face help with the paperwork, or for general information about limiting damage from future events, while the centers are still open.”
Kentuckians may continue to register for assistance or receive information by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) after the centers close. More than 1,400 residents have visited the DRCs since the first ones opened June 18.
Crisis counselors will continue to staff hotlines, many of them 24-hours, seven days a week:
- For those in eastern Kentucky counties of Lewis, Carter, Boyd, Elliott, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin and Pike, call Project Recovery at 1-800-562-8909.
- For those in the following counties: Breathitt, Clay, Knott, Leslie and Perry; call 1-800-262-7491.
- For those in the following counties: Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham and Spencer, call 1-800-221-0446.
- For all other counties, call 1-888-522-7228, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Also, victims can get help with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications after the DRCs close by visiting SBA specialists at Clark Elementary School, 140 S. Clark Road in Prestonsburg until further notice. The SBA workshop is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
It is critical that people return their SBA applications, after filling them out to the best of their ability. Doing so may help people get other cash grants. They also may qualify for more loan money than they realize. "It is perfectly acceptable to return an application with information missing," said Frank Adinolfe of the SBA. "Just make sure you sign the three forms. Then we can work with you in getting the rest of the information." Adinolfe explained that the SBA interest rates are so low that sometimes people who already have some debt actually wind up paying less, on new and old debt combined, by using the SBA loan.
Additional aid in filling out SBA forms is available through the Long-term Recovery Committees, which have trained people to help fill out SBA forms. They can be contacted at:
- Floyd County (Community Action): 606-886-2929
- Johnson County (Community Action): 606-789-6515
- Magoffin County (Community Action): 606-249-2217
- Martin County (Community Action): 606-298-3217
- Pike County (Community Action): 606-432-2775
- Central Kentucky [other counties east of Interstate 75] (Big Sandy Area Community Action): 606-789-3641
- Western Kentucky [all counties west of Interstate 75] (Louisville Chapter of the American Red Cross): 502-561-3642
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: Tuesday, 06-Jul-2004 14:58:09