JOPLIN, Mo. —
The following listing shows services that are available for victims of Sunday’s powerful storm in Joplin.
Federal agencies
• Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are set up at the Red Cross relief center at Missouri Southern State University’s Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
FEMA personnel also will be present at other shelters around the area. As neighborhoods are cleared for safety, FEMA representatives will be out contacting those in need of assistance.
People who are need of disaster assistance may contact FEMA by telephone at 800-621-3362. To file a FEMA claim call 1-800-621-FEMA or visit www.disasterassistance.gov.
• Anyone needing disaster information, shelter information or referrals are urged to call 211. The 211 service number is available for most areas in Missouri. In areas in which it is not, call 1-800-427-4626.
• The Joplin post office at First and Main streets is holding mail for residents who lost homes and businesses in the tornado.
The mail will need to be sorted, and people are being asked to wait until Friday or the first of the week before trying to pick up their mail. Mail will be available during regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. People picking up mail will need to have a personal identification, even if it does not include the current address. No mail will be returned.
People are being asked to wait some time before filing change of address forms to avoid confusion.
The post office at 32nd and Main streets is closed. It suffered potential structural damage and is being inspected.
Postal customers who have a P.O. Box at Joplin’s Station A Branch Office should also pick up their mail at the Joplin Main Post Office.
• The Social Security office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at 4102 S. Arizona Ave., ready to assist victims of the tornado.
Those needing assistance may call the Joplin office toll-free at 866-964-7421 for information and services, or go online at www.socialsecurity. gov to change an address or telephone number, set up direct deposit or apply for benefits.
Social Security officials say recipients need not worry about tornado-related disruptions in mail delivery and cashing a paper check, because of a secure direct deposit option. Anyone receiving Social Security may call the local office toll-free at 866-964-7421, go online or call the national toll-free number at 800-772-1213 to get started with direct deposit.
Anyone who lost a Social Security card in the tornado will need identity documents to apply for a replacement card. For emergency help with acceptable identity documents for a replacement card, people may call the Joplin office.
Missouri state government assistance, shelter information: http://1.usa.gov/lk992f
Insurance
• The National Catastrophe Team of Allstate Insurance Co. has set up a mobile assistance unit on the campus of Missouri Southern State University. Mele Tellitz is leading the team to provide help for people insured by Allstate. A contact telephone number is 303-204-4486. The mobile assistance team will be in town for several days to assist clients.
Jobs
• Joplin residents displaced from their jobs have options for unemployment benefits and work force services as part of Joplin’s economic recovery.
While the Missouri Career Center at Eighth Street and Wall Avenue remains closed because of the disaster recovery efforts at Memorial Hall and utility outages, center representatives are available to meet with displaced workers at the Workforce Investment Board office near Northpark Mall, 105 Range Line Road, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Additional dates may be added as needed.
Services include information and recent changes on applying for unemployment insurance, assistance for job searches and potential training opportunities.
Missouri’s unemployment insurance program has specific provisions for Jasper and Newton county residents affected by the disaster; Sunday’s tornado qualified certain residents in the two counties to use this program. Information on how to apply will be distributed today.
• Initial estimates show nearly 5,000 workers were displaced due to the destruction of the May 22 tornado in Joplin.
More options and expanded hours are on the way to help connect displaced workers and storm victims with re-employment services and financial unemployment benefits.
The Missouri Career Center locations that are now open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, are:
• Missouri Career Center’s main location at Eighth Street and Wall Avenue and
• Mobile Response Career Center at Missouri Southern State University, 3950 E. Newman Road.
Locations open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday:
• The Bridge near I-44 and Range Line Road
• IgniteChurch at Seventh Street and Maiden Lane
• Workforce Investment Board in front of Northpark Mall, 105 N. Range Line Road
Neighboring WIBs and workforce centers are assisting with the tornado disaster relief in Joplin.
More outreach locations also are under development throughout various high traffic areas of Joplin and units are due to arrive from Arkansas and Kansas.
Details: 206-1717.
• A Business Recovery Center has opened in Joplin to help business owners who have been hurt by the storm. As many as 300 businesses were affected by the tornado on Sunday. Many of them are a complete loss.
The center is being opened by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Missouri Southern State University’s Small Business and Technology Development Center and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
The recovery center will open at 9 a.m. Thursday in the Newman Innovation Center (next to the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce) at 320 E. 4th St.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
SBA customer service representatives will be available to meet with business owners to explain the low-interest SBA disaster loan program. Low-interest loans are available for up to $2 million.
Disaster loan information and application forms also are available from the SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling the SBA toll-free at 800-659-2955 or visiting the website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is July 8, 2011. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 9, 2012.
• Businesses that need help, contact the Small Business Association: 1-800-621-FEMA, or www.SBA.gov. See reps face to face at First United Methodist Church, Fourth Street and Byers Avenue.
Mercy/St. John’s has clinics available in Carthage and Neosho to assist with medical needs.
• Peoplelink Staffing Solutions is open for business in Joplin and announced its commitment to “do whatever it takes” to get the residents of Joplin back to work. Peoplelink operates a contingent staffing company in downtown Joplin. The company has made significant donations to The Red Cross and will match the first $100 donated by each of their contingent employees.
Services
• Hometown Bank is providing special assistance to customers and businesses impacted by Sunday’s storm.
Effective immediately, Hometown will allow these customers to withdraw funds penalty-free from CD’s. They also are waiving ATM surcharges at all Hometown and ATMs for noncustomers.
“These actions are designed to provide our customers, as well as the generous volunteers and first responders from outside of our immediate area, with easier access to cash,” stated Hometown CEO Lonnie Heckmaster.
In addition, Hometown Bank will provide special loan offers for customers and discounts on new business loans.
Customers who need assistance should contact their local banking office or call 1-866-553-2265. Additional information about Hometown Bank and it products and services can be found at www.ehometownbank.com.
• The Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry program will bring it free laundry services to Joplin beginning Thursday to provide clean clothes to those affected by the recent tornado.
Working with the American Red Cross, the Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry program will provide free full service laundry to relief workers and residents of Mission who are in need of resources and support after the damage caused by the adverse weather. These residents and workers are encouraged to drop off their laundry to be washed, dried and folded, free of charge. No bedding, jackets or other large pieces will be accepted.
The services will be available at Walmart, 2623 W. Seventh St. Service hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Monday, May 26-30.
A Duracell Power Relief Trailer also will have services available Wednesday through Tuesday, May 25-31.
The Tide Loads of Hope was created in 2005 to provide much needed laundry services to families affected by Hurricane Katrina. It has since expanded the program to help families affected by disasters in several areas. The truck is outfitted with 32 energy-efficient Frigidaire Affinity washers and dryers. Tide has washed over 44,000 loads of laundry for more than 35,000 families impacted by disasters since the program was launched.
• U-Haul Co. of Missouri is offering 30 days of free storage and U-Box Portable Storage to residents of Joplin who have been affected by Sunday’s tornado.
With U-Box Portable Storage, tornado victims can pick up or have delivered U-Boxes. They can then fill them up, and the company will store them in its secure warehouse or deliver them to a location of the victim’s choice.
In addition to the 30-days free self-storage assistance being offered, people who need boxes can take advantage of the company’s Take a Box, Leave a Box Program. This program allows customers to return their reusable boxes and allows others to take them as needed for free. U-Haul encourages anyone who has any type of reusable box to drop it off at the nearest U-Haul location and allow another family to reuse the box, free of charge, instead of throwing the reusable box into the recycling bin.
Details: 800-255-5953.
• Meek’s Building Center is mobilizing the chain’s 34 stores and its key vendors to make storm-related emergency supplies available to Joplin residents. These include items such as generators, tarps and tie-downs, batteries, poly film, extension cords, gas cans, plywood and building materials, power tools, chain saws, bar oil and chain oil, hand tools, and rubber boots.
Meek’s, at Range Line and Newman roads, has extended store hours in the wake of the disaster and will be open until 8 p.m. seven days a week through May 30, including Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend.
• Verizon Wireless is sending three temporary cell towers to provide emergency wireless calling capacity and coverage in and around Joplin in the wake of the tornado.
The temporary towers will provide network coverage to Verizon Wireless customers in some of the hardest hit areas.
A Verizon team is working with local emergency management personnel to determine the best locations for the temporary cell towers. Additional temporary resources, including a mobile charging station and a temporary store, are being sent to the Joplin area, according to the company.
• Joplin area residents and businesses affected by the tornado can dial in to Socket’s network to access the Internet free of charge to help connect to loved ones.
Any user name and password will work when dialing to the Internet using Socket’s local Joplin dial-up modem number, 417-206-9992.
To set up the free connection, users need to follow these steps or call Socket at 800-762-5383.
1. Go to the computer’s control panel.
2. Go to Network Connections or Network and Sharing Center.
3. Add or set up a new connection.
4. Enter in the dial-up number: 417-206-9992.
5. Enter in any user name and password.
Socket’s technical support in Columbia also will be made available to everyone using this free connection. Victims may call Socket with any problems or if they need help setting up the connection. People may contact Socket toll-free at 800-762-5383 or from Joplin at 417-572-0000.
To locate a loved one, or report that one is safe and well, people may go to www.safeandwell.org.
• Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., is coordinating truckloads of water from the northwest Arkansas area via fleet of shipping trucks to the Joplin area.
• Pro Tire, at their mobile unit located at 26th and Main streets, are still fixing slashed or flat tires for free for Joplin residents until 4:30 p.m. Call 417-438-7956.
• Karnes Pro Tire at 2627 E. Seventh St. is providing fix-a-flat services. It has set up operations at 26th and Main streets, and at 2627 E. Seventh St. It will repair tires of emergency service vehicles for free and for vehicles of private individuals for about $10 to $15.
• The Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys has a memo of understanding with the American Red Cross to provide free disaster legal services. A team likely will not be mobilized to the Joplin area for several days, if not weeks, but it is able to offer assistance via telephone if there are people who need the advice of an attorney.
Officials say this is strictly a volunteer, free service provided by members and by strict agreement with the Red Cross; members do not and cannot profit from any case that may arise.
Legal advice ranges from assistance with insurance claims, to counseling on landlord-tenant or housing issues, to assistance with home repair contracts, to replacement of legal documents destroyed in a disaster. For information, people may call 573-635-5215 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, or email jeannie@socket.net
• Pizza Hut is bringing two trailers with food for victims and relief workers to Joplin.
Pizza and water will be available at two Joplin locations. The trailers were to arrive at 20th and Main streets, and at 17th Street and Range Line Road. Serving hours will be from afternoon to dark.
The food will be at the two locations today and possibly Thursday, or as long as the food lasts.
Donations
• Northpark Mall has opened a donation center for victims of the tornado.
Donations of clothes, blankets, diapers and other household supplies are being accepted at the center, located across from Old Navy in the mall.
The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until Friday.
Details: cameo_gerdes@cblproperties.com.
• Joplin Family Worship Center, 5290 E Seventh St., has transformed its church sanctuary (12,000 square feet) into a resource staging area.
The area is filled with much needed support items for those who have been impacted by the tornado. Available support includes food/meats, clothes, water, personal care kits, diapers, baby food, baby wipes, paper products and more.
Doors are open to the public From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: 417-291-3089.
Medical
• Patients at St. John’s Regional Medical Center who have questions about scheduled physician appointments, tests, surgeries, prescriptions or other medical needs should call 417-781-2727.
Co-workers and others with vehicles on the St. John’s Regional campus may come to the new southeast main entrance with their drivers’ license and vehicle information between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Any tow trucks that come must have proper information on the vehicle they are picking up.
• The Jasper County Heath Department will be providing tetanus shots to first responders and to volunteers providing relief services in the area affected by the tornado and to residents in the affected areas.
Tetanus immunizations will be provided from 8 to 9 a.m. today Friday at the Jasper County Health Department, 105 Lincoln St., Carthage.
The department will be scheduling additional locations in the Joplin area and will announce the clinics as they are scheduled. Clinics also will be posted on the department’s Facebook page.
Details: 417-358-3111 or 877-879-9131.
• Dr. Ramesh R. Shah, M.D., and Dr. Heeral R. Shah, M.D., eye surgeons, request that their patients calls 417-358-5966 after Tuesday to reschedule their appointments.
They lost their office in Joplin in the tornado and will see patients at their satellite office in Carthage.
The satellite office at 1515 Hazel Street in Carthage will help Joplin tornado victims suffering from vision problems/wounds.
Details: 358-5966.
• Due to the huge amount of debris spewed throughout central Joplin, including untold amounts of exposed, rusty nails, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services are shipping to Joplin 300 doses of tetanus vaccine shots that will be delivered Wednesday at the Joplin Health Department, 321 East 4th Street. Details: 623-6122.
Others
• Americorps check-in for survivors and family: 417-659-5464
• Safe and Well from the Red Cross: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php
• Joplin, Mo., Tornado Recovery Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/joplinmo
Volunteers
• Volunteer Ozarks Red Cross
http://www.redcross-ozarks.org/volunteer/
To make donations
redcross-ozarks.org/Joplin
