FEMA: Two West Tennessee Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

NASHVILLE - The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Gibson and Tipton counties will transition to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers this weekend, state and federal recovery officials announced.

 

Both DRCs will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, June 5, and re-open as Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Monday morning.

 

The transitioning DRCs are located in:

 

 

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers will open Monday at the same locations. However, they will have different hours of operation.

 

 

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened temporary recovery centers soon after counties were declared eligible for Individual Assistance in response to the severe storms and flooding that occurred between April 30 and May 18, 2010.

 

TEMA and FEMA established a total of 64 separate Disaster Recovery Center operations to speed recovery in the 45 counties declared for Individual Assistance.

 

“More than 13,000 Tennessee residents have visited the Disaster Recovery Centers to ask questions and get help with applications for assistance,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia B. Szczech. “The number of visits is declining, which is why we are closing several of them and transitioning others to loan outreach centers. However, people from any county can continue to visit any of the recovery centers that remain open.”

 

Officials stress that individuals are not required to visit a DRC to register for assistance or to obtain answers to their questions.

 

“Although TEMA and FEMA are closing these centers, we want to assure all of those affected by the flooding that our specialists will continue to be available,'' Szczech said. “FEMA will continue to be represented at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers.”

 

Also, those affected by the storms and flooding can register or get answers to questions by telephoning 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. They also can register online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. To be eligible for FEMA assistance, they must register by July 6, 2010.

The re-opening of the Gibson and Tipton county recovery centers as Disaster Loan Outreach Centers demonstrates the commitment of the SBA to ensure that qualified individuals and businesses receive the help they need to recover from the severe storms and flooding that occurred between April 30 and May 18.

 

“Assisting individuals and business owners to recover from a disaster is our primary mission," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. "We are encouraging people affected by this disaster to visit a Disaster Recovery Center or Disaster Loan Outreach Center to obtain help with completing their loan applications.”

 

Numerous residents and businesses that have registered with FEMA for assistance have already received an SBA loan application in the mail. If you have received an SBA disaster loan application for physical damages, it must be completed and returned to SBA by July 6 to be eligible for other federal assistance.

 

For many renters and homeowners, completing and returning the loan application is crucial to accessing complete disaster recovery assistance. Renters and homeowners not approved by the SBA for a disaster loan may be referred to FEMA to be considered for several types of grants that are available only for applicants not approved for SBA disaster loans.

 

The following DRCs remain open:

 

 

 

Follow the recovery in Tennessee online at www.twitter.com/tema, www.twitter.com/femainfocus, www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo, www.youtube.com/fema and www.flickr.com/photos/t_e_m_a.

 

 

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