Disaster Field Office Relocates To Columbia
Release Date: June 3, 2002
Release Number: 1412-27
» More Information on Missouri Severe Storms and Tornadoes
Poplar Bluff, MO -- The joint federal/state Disaster Field Office (DFO) that had been located in Poplar Bluff has relocated to Columbia. This office is provides a base of operations for administering assistance programs available to Missourians as a result of President Bush's May 6 disaster declaration. It is NOT designated to provide direct customer service to the public.
The original declaration was in response to damages caused by severe storms and tornadoes April 24-28 and included five counties in southeastern Missouri. The declaration was amended in May to include flood damage and the number of counties eligible for assistance has grown to 77. The office was moved to be more centrally located in relation to the growing number of counties.
As a result of the move, the telephone number for the news desk of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has changed:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) News Desk 573-443-5915
Telephone numbers for other public information officers remain the same: 573-526-9136 for the State Emergency Management Agency and 817-684-5600 for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Of the 77 counties eligible for disaster aid, 17 qualify for Individual Assistance, 29 for Public Assistance and 31 for both. Individual assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also are available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Public Assistance is provided on a cost-share basis to state and local governments to help with emergency measures, debris removal and repairing and replacing damaged public facilities.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 26-Aug-2003 13:59:38