Deadline for federal assistance is month away

SIKESTON - The deadline for seeking federal assistance to fund recovery from May's flooding is exactly one month away.

At disaster recovery centers scattered throughout the area, the public can meet with officials from Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration. A center opened at 103 S. Kingshighway in Sikeston just last week and like all the centers is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

"I strongly encourage anyone who wants to meet face-to-face with FEMA to visit one of the centers," said John Mills, external affairs field specialist. "Everything is free and you may learn about programs that you weren't aware of that could really help your family."

Mills emphasized before coming into a center, households should first register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362.

The Sikeston center has had 44 visits since opening last Thursday. And, according to Mills, it will only be open for a limited amount of time.

He acknowledged many of those local residents who had property damaged in the flood, may have registered at Morehouse. Since the recovery center opened on May 17, Morehouse has tallied 774 visits by the public, Mills said.

As of Tuesday, FEMA officials reported 260 registrations in Scott County with a little more than $328,000 approved so far for individual homeowners and renters. New Madrid County has had 507 registrations with FEMA approving just under $2.7 million and $451,000 in claims were approved for 142 Stoddard County registrations.

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