Puyallup Man Takes Charge Of His Flood Recovery
Release Date: December 29, 2006
Release Number: 1671-015
» More Information on Washington Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
LACEY, Wash. -- Michael Marsyla is a familiar face at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Puyallup. He lost both his home and business in the November 2-11 flooding and is trying to make sure he has applied for all the aid available to him
Michael, like more than 250 people, came to a DRC to meet face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists. The DRCs also are located in Granite Falls, Kelso, Monroe and Packwood, and they are a joint venture of the State of Washington, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Federal and state program specialists are available at the DRCs to provide help and information to anyone who has already applied for FEMA disaster assistance and to assist applicants in checking their case status after they have applied for assistance.
Michael first registered for FEMA assistance by calling the 1-800-621-FEMA registration number right after the flood forced him to leave his home and business. He stopped in at Pierce County Emergency Management and learned that FEMA had set up the DRC in Puyallup.
“I came down here and talked to everyone,” said Michael. “FEMA walked me through the process and I also met with the Small Business Administration (SBA) about a low interest loan. Today I came back to turn in my SBA paperwork.”
Michael has become an advertisement for FEMA. “I tell people to come down and register. There are FEMA people walking my neighborhood saying the same thing, but when I tell people about my experience it helps convince them. I tell them they have to get down here to find out about all of the programs.”
To apply for assistance, disaster survivors can call FEMA’s toll-free registration number: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-463-7585 for persons who are speech or hearing impaired. For the location and hours of operation or the nearest DRC, call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with State and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 29-Dec-2006 21:37:41