Thu, Aug 28 2008
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Published May 20, 2008 12:27 am - Emergency assistance is on its way for residents and businesses in Ottawa County, Okla., affected by the deadly and destructive May 10 tornadoes, and aid could be headed for Southwest Missouri residents in the near future. Disaster relief in the works By Melissa Dunson
mdunson@joplinglobe.com Emergency assistance is on its way for residents and businesses in Ottawa County, Okla., affected by the deadly and destructive May 10 tornadoes, and aid could be headed for Southwest Missouri residents in the near future. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is opening a disaster-recovery center today in Picher, Okla., in the Community Center at 116 Devilliers Circle, right behind Picher City Hall. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Brad Craine, FEMA public information officer on site in Picher, said the center will house representatives from a number of organizations to answer questions, provide information and help people register to receive aid. The groups represented include the state of Oklahoma, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration. In addition to federal assistance and insurance coverage, Stacey Brown, SBA public information officer, said the SBA will offer low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters and business owners in Ottawa County to help them start rebuilding. Still waiting Southwest Missouri residents are still waiting for a federal disaster declaration. Gov. Matt Blunt has asked President Bush to approve that declaration for Barry, Jasper and Newton counties. The governor’s office, the White House news desk and the FEMA news desk could not estimate for the Globe on Monday when a determination might be made. Dawn Kinsey, FEMA spokeswoman for Region 7, said a determination on a disaster area can be made immediately or in a few weeks, depending on factors including the level of damage and the level of insurance coverage. SBA assistance If Barry, Jasper and Newton counties are declared federal disaster areas, homeowners, renters and business owners could be eligible for SBA assistance immediately, Brown said. That assistance includes loans of up to $200,000, at 3 percent interest for 30 years, for homeowners with real-estate damage. Renters and homeowners would be eligible for loans of up to $40,000 at 3 percent interest to pay for personal property that was lost, including vehicles. Businesses and nonprofit organizations that were damaged during the storms can obtain loans for up to $1.5 million at 4 percent interest. Even businesses that were not physically damaged can apply for an economic-injury loan of up to $1.5 million at 4 percent interest if their customer base was damaged by the storm. “It’s a working capital loan to help keep the doors open, and pay for things like accounts payable and payroll,” Brown said. Small businesses in counties surrounding a federally declared disaster area also may apply for economic-injury loans. 
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