FEMA center now open in Pulaski

By KEN SHMIDHEISER, Editor Commonwealth Journal

Somerset — Federal disaster relief specialists were out spreading the word yesterday that a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center has opened at Hal Rogers Fire Training Center to assist victims of the May 1-2 storm that ravaged Pulaski County.“The registration deadline for assistance is July 1,” said Debbie Simon, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) publication relations officer, “and we are encouraging those affected by the storms between May 1 through June 1 to register before the deadline. Even if they don’t think damage is severe, we encourage them to register in case hidden damage surfaces in the future. To help them do that, we now have a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center right here in Pulaski County.”

The Pulaski County Disaster Recovery Center is located in Building 2, Room 5, of the Hal Rogers Fire Training Center located at 180 Oak Leaf Lane, Somerset. The center’s hours are 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. until further notice. The center is staffed by eight federal officials. A second FEMA recovery center has been opened at the Rockcastle County Courthouse in Mt. Vernon. The FEMA center that opened last month at Kings Mountain in Lincoln County has finished processing storm victimsStorm and flood victims also have the convenience of registering via telephone by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Signs directing the public to the Pulaski County recovery center are being posted across the county. FEMA representatives are also conducting door-to-door visits to residences in areas where flooding was heavy. FEMA officials all carry federal identification.“As of Monday morning, FEMA has registered 5,030 storm victims and has dispersed almost $15 million in assistance to them,” Simon told the Commonwealth Journal. Of than amount, $12.7 million has been used for housing assistance, and $2.7 million for other needs.

Gary Colton, public information officer for the SBA (Small Business Administration), said his agency as received 3,321 applications for SBA storm relief loans and so far has approved $2.7 million in low-interest loans.“Many people are familiar with the assistance available through FEMA, usually in the form of small grants to help get safe, secure and sanitary housing after a disaster. But low-interest loans — up to $200,000 for homeowners to repair or replace their primary residence and up to $2 million for businesses — are only available through SBA,” Colton explained. “Usually SBA works only with small businesses, but in the aftermath of disasters we are the agency commissioned by the government to provide relief funds to both individuals and businesses.”

On May 1 and 2, Pulaski County was one of 63 Kentucky counties ravaged by a deluge that dumped more than eight inches of water here in a matter of hours. In its wake, the severe storm flooded homes and businesses, tore off roofs, toppled buildings, swept away bridges, and left millions of dollars of damages in its wake.“It’s very important victims realize the filing deadline for SBA applications for loans for physical damage to homes, personal property and businesses is July 12, 2010. A second deadline — Feb. 11, 2011 — has been set for loans for economic injury,” Colton said. “Even if you don’t think you have any extensive damage, it would be good to file the paperwork in case hidden damage arises in the future. If it ends up that you don’t need the loan, you don’t have to take it. But when the deadline expires, so does the assistance.”

Colton said the first step to obtaining SBA help is to register with FEMA at the toll-free storm hotline: 1-800-621-3382 or at the recover center.“Do this even if you are not sure you will need a loan,” Colton advised. “There is no obligation if you don’t need the money.”

After registering with FEMA, you can seek SBA assistance by:• Applying in person at the SBA Disaster Recovery Center also located at Hal Rogers Fire Training Center. The center is open 9 a.m. through 6 p.m.

• Applying online using SBA’s Electronic Load Application at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.• Completing a paper application and mailing it to SBA at: 14925 Kingsport Road, Ft. Worth, TX 76155-2243.

• If hearing impaired, by calling 1-800-877-8339.SBA disaster recovery loans carry interest rates beginning at 2.75 percent for homeowners; 4.0 percent for private non-profit organizations; and 4.0 percent for businesses. Loans can be retired over a period of up to 30 years. In addition to receiving help to repair and/or rebuild residences, homeowners may also borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property lost in the storm.

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