Community Relations Teams Canvassing Counties 

Release Date: March 28, 2006
Release Number: 1631-013

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

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Relations Teams are reaching out to those affected by the March 11-13 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Members of FEMA’s Community Relations team are going door-to-door, reminding people to apply for FEMA disaster assistance by calling the toll-free number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For people who are speech or hearing-impaired, the TTY number is 1-800-462-7585. Telephone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST, seven days a week. People may also apply online at www.fema.gov.

“Our community relations teams are in contact with community leaders and public officials to assess the needs of individuals and business owners,” explained Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. Costello. “We’re also working with the volunteer organizations that have rallied during this disaster.”

Costello reminded Missourians affected by the disaster that applying for assistance with a voluntary agency is not the same as registering with FEMA. “The only way to register for federal disaster assistance is by calling our toll-free registration number,” said Costello.

Community Relations Teams are currently in Bates, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Hickory, Cooper, Greene, Henry, Howard, Iron, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Mississippi, Montgomery, Monroe, Morgan, New Madrid, Newton, Phelps, Perry, Pettis, Putnam, Randolph, Saline, Scott, St. Clair, Taney, Vernon, Washington, Webster and Wright, and working to expand operations into these declared counties.

“We encourage any citizen or business who has suffered damage from the disaster to call or file an application online,” said Ron Reynolds, SEMA director.

Federal and State assistance programs include: grants for short-term rental needs, minimal home repairs, or to meet serious disaster-related needs not covered by other programs. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) makes low-interest federal disaster loans available to homeowners, renters, and both businesses and private non-profit organizations

of all sizes whose property was damaged or destroyed in the declared primary counties. In addition, the SBA also makes low–interest federal disaster loans available to qualified small businesses (located in both primary and contiguous counties) that have suffered economic injury as a result of the disaster.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 28-Mar-2006 16:52:13