Disaster Recovery News: Disaster Recovery Centers And Holiday Hours 

Release Date: May 22, 2003
Release Number: 1463-30

» More Information on Missouri Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

Springfield, MO -- Federal and state recovery officials today announced that two Disaster Recovery Centers will close soon.

In Pierce City, the Disaster Recovery Center will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Those who live and work in the Pierce City area are invited to visit the Disaster Recovery Center in nearby Mount Vernon. The center in Bolivar will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, as originally announced.

The remaining nine Disaster Recovery Centers will remain open, Monday through Saturday, including Memorial Day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center is not required. However, given the wide range of state and federal disaster assistance programs, many people find it helpful to utilize this resource. Recovery Centers are free and open to the public. Missourians affected by the disaster are encouraged to visit any of the centers to talk face-to-face with a recovery specialist.

"At this stage in the recovery process, many people want information about the status of their applications for assistance or simply want help filling out their disaster loan applications," said Mike Karl, federal coordinating officer. "Our recovery specialists are on hand to answer those questions and to provide people with rebuilding information so their homes and families are safer if tornadoes ever revisit this area."

Karl and other disaster recovery officials encourage Missourians to first apply for disaster assistance by calling the toll-free application number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, excluding Memorial Day. Persons who are hearing- or speech-impaired can apply by calling a special TTY number: 1-800-462-7565. Multilingual operators also are available when needed.

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS

Last Modified: Friday, 23-May-2003 14:09:10