Disaster Recovery Centers Closing in Five Iowa Counties This Week 

Release Date: July 23, 2008
Release Number: 1763-112

» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in five Iowa counties will close permanently during the week. Four centers will reopen the following day as SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs).

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened the temporary DRCs to provide face-to-face assistance to those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding beginning May 25 and continuing.

The Winneshiek County DRC at Carrie Lee Elementary School, 210 Vernon St., Decorah, IA 52101, closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23. It first opened next door to Decorah Middle School on June 30, 2008.

The Des Moines County DRC at the Great River Medical Center, Mercy Building, 1221 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington, IA 52655, will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 24. It opened June 23. The SBA will open a DLOC at this location on Friday, July 25, and operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until
5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and be closed Sunday until further notice.

The Scott County DRC at Scott Community College, Blong Technology Center, 8500 Hillandale Road, Davenport, IA 52806, will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 24. The Scott County DRC opened originally at Old Town Mall on July 9, 2008. The SBA will open a DLOC at this location on Friday, July 25, and operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and be closed Sunday until further notice.

The Wapello County DRC at Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview, Ottumwa, IA 52501, will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 24. It opened on July 8. The SBA will open a DLOC at this location on Friday, July 25, and operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and be closed Sunday until further notice.

The Polk County DRC at Harding Middle School, 203 East Euclid Ave., Des Moines, IA 50313, will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 25. It opened on June 19. The SBA will open a DLOC on Saturday, July 26, at a new location in Polk County at Park Fair Mall Senior Center, 100 East Euclid Ave., Suite 105, Des Moines. It will operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and be closed Sunday until further notice.

It is not necessary to visit a DRC to receive FEMA assistance. Persons who suffered damage should register with FEMA by calling its toll-free telephone line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585, or online anytime at www.fema.gov.

"At this stage of the recovery process, the emphasis for assistance is to meet the long-term needs of victims," explained Joseph Folsom, district director of the SBA's Iowa office. "We believe the transition of these Disaster Recovery Centers to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers will better meet the current needs of Iowa residents and businesses."

SBA offers low-interest federal disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed by the disaster. So far, SBA has approved more than $126 million in low-interest disaster loans to Iowa residents and businesses hurt by the flooding, tornadoes and severe storms.  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.  SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future. For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes only, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

For additional information about SBA disaster assistance, call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or visit SBA's website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is September 29, 2008. The EIDL deadline is Feb. 27, 2009.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Friday, 25-Jul-2008 15:11:26