Federal, state, local, and voluntary agencies are working in partnership to help Missourians recover from the recent ice storm 

Release Date: February 22, 2002
Release Number: 1403-13

» More Information on Missouri Ice Storm

Kansas City, MO. -- Federal, state, local, and voluntary agencies are working in partnership to help Missourians recover from the recent ice storm. The following is a summary of ongoing response and recovery efforts for the week of February 17 to 22. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will update this information weekly.

* To date, 12,421 Missourians affected by the ice storm have registered for assistance through FEMA's toll-free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA. Recovery specialists take calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. Anyone who suffered damages from the winter ice storm is encouraged to register.

* Currently, 43 Missouri counties are included in the Presidential disaster declaration.

* To date, $1,526,599 from FEMA's Disaster Housing program has been approved for Missourians to pay for temporary housing needs, including reimbursement for uninsured or underinsured hotel/motel expenses incurred by residents displaced by their homes due to power outages or home damage from the ice storms.

* The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) personnel are busily reviewing disaster loan applications. If applications are not completed and returned it could delay further assistance. The SBA offers low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, and business owners who have suffered uninsured or underinsured losses from the ice storm. The first checks will be disbursed to disaster victims beginning today.

* Currently, three FEMA/SEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Missouri. (See addresses, below.)

* Inspectors are examining damaged properties of those who have registered for disaster assistance through the toll-free registration number. More than 2,420 housing inspections have already been completed.

Important telephone numbers:

TOLL-FREE REGISTRATION: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY (for hearing- and speech-impaired): 1-800-462-7585

Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

The following are the addresses of the Disaster Recovery Centers in Missouri. Applicants need not visit a center to receive federal disaster assistance. However, those who have applied for disaster assistance may visit a center to receive information on the status of their claim, obtain answers to questions about assistance programs, get help with their Small Business Administration loan applications, and find out which voluntary agencies may be available to offer additional assistance.

They may also be able to discuss ways to possibly minimize future losses. Telephones will be available for those who were unable to register prior to their visit to the centers.

FEMA/SEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Missouri

Benjamin Plaza Shopping Center
8938-E Hillcrest Road
Kansas City, MO 64132

Palmer School
218 N. Pleasant St.
Independence, MO 64050

Northland Neighborhoods Inc.
5312 N.E. Chouteau Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64119

The centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, until further notice.

Disaster information is available on FEMA's World Wide Web at http://www.fema.gov. Information also is available through FEMA's 24-hour fax-on-demand service at 1-202-646-FEMA. Actualities are available on the FEMA Radio Network at 1-800-323-5248.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2003 11:46:17