FEMA Community Relations Teams Reach Out
Release Date: November 19, 2008
Release Number: 1809-004
» More Information on Missouri Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Federal disaster recovery professionals trained in community outreach are visiting people in Boone, Callaway, Chariton, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Osage, Schuyler, St. Charles, St. Louis, Stone, Taney, Texas, and Webster counties and the Independent City of St. Louis, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials said today.
FEMA Community Relations (CR) specialists will visit residences, churches, community organizations, and emergency managers, providing answers to questions about disaster assistance.
"We are ensuring that all affected citizens and businesses have access to FEMA information and know how to register for assistance," said Michael Karl, federal coordinating officer for FEMA operations in Missouri.
The Community Relations outreach is one of several ways FEMA gets the word to people who may be eligible for the individual assistance programs authorized in the major presidential disaster declaration of Nov. 13 for damage occurring from severe storms, flooding and tornado during the period of Sept. 11-24.
Other ways include FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers such as the one located in University City; contacts with the news media; communication with congressional, state and local officials and elected representatives; and contact with other disaster recovery organizations operating in the disaster area.
CR representatives seek out any location where people affected in the disaster might be found. They provide information and flyers on recovery resources, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans and other disaster-related topics. Referrals are also sought for persons with special needs, such as the elderly and people with disabilities.
Karl said the CR teams are expected to be in the field for four to six weeks. Representatives return as often as necessary to reach everyone affected.
Residents of Boone, Callaway, Chariton, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Osage, Schuyler, St. Charles, St. Louis, Stone, Taney, Texas, and Webster counties and the Independent City of St. Louis who suffered damage from the severe storms, flooding and tornado during the period of Sept. 11-24 and have not registered for assistance with FEMA should call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. Telephone lines are open 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Central Standard Time, seven days a week. Callers must provide their legal name and Social Security number, address of the damaged property and insurance information.
Online registration at www.fema.gov is available 24 hours a day.
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, 21-Nov-2008 14:10:52