FEMA, SBA may help victims begin to rebuild

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

Flood relief may still be available to local residents.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials will be at Weatherford Fire Station No. 3, located at 122 Atwood Court across from Love’s Truck Stop on the Interstate 20 access road, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 28.

The United States Department of Homeland Security is operating a Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) in order to serve areas affected by recent floods.

A press release stated the disaster recovery centers are a “one-stop shop” for individuals to learn more about their FEMA aid status with mitigation experts on hand to educate residents on how to avoid or reduce future disaster losses when rebuilding.

Representatives of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be there to answer questions and help fill out applications for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, as well as non-profit organizations.

Kenneth Clark, federal coordinating officer said in the release a mobile disaster recovery center enables FEMA to assist individuals throughout Texas.

“MDRCs are a great place for citizens to get answers to questions they may have concerning the disaster aid process,” Clark said.

The units have also been scheduled to visit Eastland, Burnet, Cooke, Tarrant, Wichita and Grayson counties.

Brad Craine, FEMA public information officer, said FEMA officials make trips to affected areas with the unit for the convenience of the applicants.

“We try to come up with the best solutions,” Craine said. “The Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers have really worked out well. We simply hook up next to a building and use it as a mother board computer on wheels.”

Craine said local victims can apply for help July 28 or by logging onto www.FEMA.gov.

He added occasionally, a Texas tax representative or Mental Health Mental Retardation representative will show up.

“A lot of times people are just at their wits end,” he said. “You never know who will show up.”

Craine said individuals wishing to apply for assistance, other than loan-related, can also call FEMA at (800) 621-3362.

After a disaster declaration was signed by President George Bush June 29, Craine said 4,570 applicants in 17 counties have registered for FEMA help.

“Even now there is ongoing damage assessments being performed by FEMA officials,” Craine said. “There was a team in Parker County, and we found obviously there was a need.”

He added locally, 66 applications have been taken by FEMA. Of those, FEMA has approved $166,615 in housing assistance or repair.

“They can spend several hundred or several thousand dollars in repairs, which could be reimbursed,” Craine said.

Disaster assistance from the SBA includes loans for homeowners up to $200,000 to repair their primary residence and up to $40,000 for renters and homeowners to replace personal property.

Businesses may be entitled to borrow up to $1.5 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury.

The organization offers low-interest working capital loans to small businesses with trouble meeting obligations due to disasters.

Interest rates are fixed for the term of the loan and determined by the disaster with market conditions.

Rates vary from 2.8 to 5.25 percent depending on available credit and type of loan. Loans for physical losses in excess of more than $10,000 and economic injury disaster loans over $5,000 require collateral.

The organization will accept real estate as collateral when it is available, but declines applications for lack of collateral, requiring the applicant to pledge what is available.

Homeowners and renters must register with FEMA to begin the process and may do so by calling (800) 621-3362.

Loan applications for homeowners and renters should be returned to the SBA, which can also refer applicants to FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program should they be denied a loan.

All businesses should register with FEMA.

Each applicant, regardless of category, must show the ability to repay the loan.

To contact the SBA, call (800) 659-2955, or mail applications to SBA, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155, or log onto www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Text Only