Registration: The First Step To Recovery 

Release Date: August 29, 2007
Release Number: 1717-002

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ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Federal and state officials are encouraging residents affected by the severe storms and flooding that began on Aug. 18, 2007, to apply for disaster assistance available in the incidents’ wake. Registering for assistance is the first step in disaster recovery, according to officials from Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

On Aug. 23, President Bush declared that individuals living in Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties are eligible for federal disaster aid. Officials are now urging residents in those counties to take the first and most essential step toward receiving aid: registering for assistance.

"Anyone who had damage from the storms and flooding could be eligible, but there's no way to know for sure unless they register," said Federal Coordinating Officer Carlos Mitchell. “Registering is the first step – and a fundamental step – to receiving assistance.”

Those affected by the severe storms and flooding can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to midnight (local time) seven days a week. Individuals can also register online at www.fema.gov.

Many types of federal and state disaster assistance are available for homeowners and renters to help compensate losses not fully covered by insurance. These can include rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable; grants to repair homes and replace essential household items to make damaged dwellings safe and sanitary; and grants to meet serious disaster-related needs not covered by other programs. Assistance can also include low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to repair major damage and replace damaged personal property.

Businesses may also be eligible for low-interest SBA loans to help them recover from the disaster, including loans to recover from property losses not fully covered by insurance. In addition, small businesses may receive loans to help provide working-capital funds to recover from the disaster’s economic impact.

Three mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are now open to serve residents and business owners affected by the disaster. At the DRCs, affected residents can speak face-to-face with disaster recovery experts. The specialists will answer questions and provide written materials about the variety of disaster assistance programs available.

“We realize that the disaster recovery process can be daunting at times,” Mitchell said. “These centers provide people who suffered losses with the chance to interact with various agencies, get answers to their questions and begin their road to recovery.”

To speed the aid process, residents are encouraged to first register with FEMA before visiting a DRC.

This week, the DRCs are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday. The mobile DRC locations for this week are:

Winona County
JC Penney Building
Hwy 61 & Hwy 14
Winona, MN

Houston County DRC
Hokah Fire Station and Comm. Center
Hwy 44 & Hwy 16
Hokah, MN

Fillmore County DRC
TRW West Automotive Bldg.
901 Home St.
Rushford, MN

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Aug-2007 14:18:57