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Minnesota/North Dakota Private Sector News Update

Issue III, April 30, 2009

This E-News Update includes information on federal and state resources available to help Minnesota and North Dakota business owners and their employees recover from the floods. We welcome your comments, questions, good stories, and suggested topics. Please send emails to FEMAPrivateSector-DR1830MN@dhs.gov for Minnesota, and for North Dakota Recovery to FEMAPrivateSector-DR1829ND@dhs.gov.

Situational Update

MINNESOTA:

To date, more than $1.4 million in financial assistance has begun to flow to residents in Clay, Norman, Traverse and Wilkin counties who suffered damages from severe storms and flooding beginning March 16 and continuing.

NORTH DAKOTA:

On April 23, 2009 seven additional North Dakota counties were declared eligible for Individual Assistance. They are Grant, McHenry, Oliver, Pierce, Stark, Walsh and Ward. Also included in the new additions are the Spirit Lake Reservation and that part of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. To date, more than $3.7 million in financial assistance has been approved for North Dakota.

Among the 33 counties now approved for Individual Assistance, 26 had already been declared eligible. They are Adams, Barnes, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill and Williams.

UPDATES:

For more information, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=11268. You can also follow FEMA's flood response on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion8 for North Dakota and http://twitter.com/femaregion5 for Minnesota.

Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance

Often the first step to recovery is making sure your employees are ready and able to come back to work. In counties designated for Individual Assistance, homeowners and renters can apply for FEMA assistance.  To apply by phone, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY 1-800-462-7585) during the hours of 6 a.m. to 12 midnight CDT.  Multi-lingual operators are available.  The toll-free number and hours of operation are the same for both states. Or apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov. Online registration is available any time. The registration deadline for disaster assistance is June 9, 2009.

Local Disaster Recovery Centers

Applicants are not required to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). However, a visit to a DRC provides an opportunity for residents to meet face-to-face with representatives from state and federal agencies and find answers to questions they may have about the recovery process. The DRC is staffed by FEMA, SBA, and other federal and non-profit agencies. Locations of current Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are:

MINNESOTA:

As of April 15, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) have opened in Moorhead and Breckenridge. The DRC is staffed by FEMA, SBA, and other federal and non-profit agencies.

MOORHEAD

Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Higher Education Community Center
1110 14th St. S (Corner of 14th St. S and 12th Ave.)
Moorhead, Minnesota 56560    
Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;

HENDRUM

Hendrum Fire Hall
309 Main Street E.
Hendrum, MN 56550
DRC closes on Thursday, April 30
Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
**Thursday April 30 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.;

ADA

Ada Fire Department
5th and West Main
Ada, MN 56510
May 1 Noon to 7 p.m.
May 2 thru May 7 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
May 8 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed May 3

** Note: As of Friday May 1, the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Hendrum Fire Hall will be transitioned into an SBA DLOC (Disaster Loan Outreach Center). New hours of operations will be Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

NORTH DAKOTA:

As of April 27, 2009 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) opened in six locations. The DRCs are staffed by FEMA, the SBA and other federal and state agencies, and are open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, until further notice.

FARGO     

Cass County Court House Annex
1010 Second Ave. S
Fargo, North Dakota 58108

JAMESTOWN     

Buffalo Mall
2400 8th Ave. SW, Ste B
Jamestown, ND 58401

VALLEY CITY

Barnes County Courthouse (basement)
230 4th Street NW
Valley City, Barnes County 58072

LAMOURE

LaMoure Civic Center
33 Center Ave. E
LaMoure, ND 58458

MINOT

Minot Municipal Auditorium Rm 201
420 3rd Avenue SW
Minot, ND 53701
**Opening date: 05-01-2009

MAYVILLE

Mayville State University (Campus Center)
330 3rd Street NE
Mayville, ND 58257
**Opening date: 05-01-2009

LISBON

Fair Grounds Expo Center (New Addition)
612 Prospect Street
Lisbon, ND 58054
**Opening date: 05-04-2009

North Dakota DRCs are open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, until further notice.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans

Disaster loans for uncompensated losses due to physical damage are available to all eligible applicants in counties declared for Individual Assistance:

Business owners may also receive support from SBA Customer Service Representatives at any Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in North Dakota and Minnesota.  The SBA Business Recovery Centers are specially designed to provide a wide range of services to businesses physically and economically impacted by the flooding.

MINNESOTA:

Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Small Business Development Center
Center for Business, Suite 115
1104 Seventh Ave. S
Moorhead, Minnesota 56563
Mondays through Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NORTH DAKOTA:

West Acres Shopping Center
3902 13th Avenue South, Suite 5237
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 9 am to 6 pm
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Businesses may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.  For more information, applicants may contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov  or visiting the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.  The TTY number is 1-800-877-8339.

Additional Assistance and Resources Available

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a form of federal disaster assistance provided through state employment departments for individuals whose income has been interrupted as a result of a  disaster.  Farmers, ranchers, self-employed individuals and others who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits may qualify.  Individuals living outside a county designated for Individual Assistance may apply if their employment inside a designated county was affected.

Minnesota:
Residents of Clay, Norman, Traverse, and Wilkin are eligible for DUA. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 15, 2009.  To apply for DUA, please log on to www.uimn.org.

North Dakota:
Residents in counties that are designated for Individual Assistance are eligible to file for DUA. The claims period began March 13; deadline to apply is May 13, 2009.  For residents in the seven newly designated counties, the deadline to apply is May 28, 2009.

DUA can be filed either by completing the form(s) that are under the Disaster Unemployment link on http://www.jobsnd.com/jsnd/jobsnd/news/news.detail.html?newsId=15502 and returning the completed form(s) to Job Service by mail or fax. Claims also may be filed by calling Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-1630, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Disaster Legal Services

Disaster Legal Services is a program providing a variety of free legal services to those affected by the disaster. The service is provided by North Dakota Legal Services with funding from FEMA.

The toll-free number is 1-800-634-5263 and is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice. Disaster Legal Services provides disaster-related legal services to low-income individuals who are unable to secure legal advice on their own. Legal service is limited to cases which will not produce fees.

Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health: Residents of northwestern Minnesota who suspect their private water wells have been contaminated by flooding need to test them before using their well water, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.  Testing kits are free and available from local public health agencies.  For more information please contact www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/emergency/natural/floods/index.html.

North Dakota Department of Health:  North Dakota residents whose septic tanks or private wells were damaged as a result of the March 13 flooding may be eligible for federal assistance to restore them to use.  The North Dakota Health Department offers free well testing. For instructions on how to disinfect wells or arrange for sampling, residents should contact the local health department or visit their websites at http://www.ndhealth.gov/flood/.

Donations and Assistance

From now to Wednesday, May 6, the "Tide Loads of Hope" mobile laundry program, in partnership with Hornbacher's, will be in Fargo, North Dakota with its "Loads of Hope" team to deliver clean clothes to those affected by the recent flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota.  The program offers free laundry services to both relief workers and residents of North Dakota and Minnesota who are in need of resources and support following the damage caused by the recent area flooding.  These residents and workers are encouraged to drop off their laundry to be washed, dried and folded, free of charge.
For more information visit: http://www.tide.com/en-US/loads-of-hope/about.jspx

Tide - Loads of Hope Truck - Laundry Drop-Off Site:
Hornbacher's Foods - Osgood
4151 45th St. S
Fargo, N.D 58104  

The Spirit of Fargo Flood Fund has been set up to help the many families and organizations throughout Fargo and Cass County that have been impacted by the historic flood of 2009. The fund is being managed by the Dakota Medical Foundation of Fargo and the United Way of Cass Clay. http://www.ci.fargo.nd.us/Donate/

Minnesota storm and flood victims who have registered with FEMA and have exhausted other means can access the resources of the Red River Valley volunteer groups and other agencies by calling First Link at 211 or the Minnesota Flood Hot Line 701-476-4000.

The North Dakota Long Term Recovery Fund is established to support the unmet needs of people who have been impacted by this disaster.  For more information visit: http://www.nd.gov/des/donations/

FEMA Mitigation Outreach

Local home supply and hardware stores in North Dakota and Minnesota are teaming up with FEMA to share important hazard mitigation and disaster assistance information with residents and local business owners.

Teams will provide free advice to homeowners and businesses who sustained damages during the recent flooding or who have questions about protecting their homes from future disasters.

MINNESOTA:

True Value Hardware
828 30th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56560
April 28 - 30
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Menard's
3000 27th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56560
May 1-4:
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NORTH DAKOTA:

Lowe's
5001 13th Avenue SW
Fargo, ND 58103
April 24–May 11
Mon thru Sat: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays: noon till 6 p.m.

Home Depot
4700 17th Avenue SW
Fargo, ND 58103
April 24-May 3
Mon thru Sat: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: noon till 6 p.m.

True Value Hardware
410 10th Street SE
Jamestown, ND 58401
April 24–May 11
Mon thru Fri: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays: noon till 4 p.m.

Private Sector Attends Business After Hours

FEMA Private Sector continues to build relationships with business communities in both Minnesota and North Dakota to inform those affected by the recent flooding events of resources that are available for businesses and employees who were impacted.

FEMA representatives attended two events last week hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead and the Wahpeton Breckenridge Area Chambers.  FEMA Private Sector, Community Relations and Small Business Administration provided disaster-assistance-related materials, disaster-preparedness materials and an overview of recovery programs to area business owners, self-employed business owners, employees, homeowners and local officials.

Last Modified: Friday, 01-May-2009 10:17:35 EDT