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Disaster relief centers open in Sikeston, Dexter
SIKESTON — A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, or DRC, is open in Sikeston at the YMCA located at 511 Taylor St. The center’s hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and closed on Sundays.
A DRC is also open at the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Building, 105 E. North Main St. in Dexter, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday until further notice. The center is also closed on Sundays.
A DRC is a one-stop shop for disaster survivors to: talk face-to-face with recovery specialists to ask questions related to their recovery; check on the status of their FEMA case; get help with applying for a low-interest disaster loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); learn about other available recovery resources.
Disaster survivors can go to any DRC for assistance, even if it is not in the county in which they live. DRC services are free.
Federal assistance to individuals and households can be in the form of grants to: find a temporary place to live, make minimal home repairs and/or to replace certain personal property. Eligible survivors who need accessibility equipment also may benefit from these grants.
The FEMA assistance, granted July 23 by President Joe Biden, helps eligible homeowners, renters and self-employed business owners in 10 Missouri counties who were impacted by the May 19-27 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The 10 counties are: Barry, Butler, Carter, Howell, New Madrid, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Texas.
FEMA has already approved $903,720 for 158 eligible individuals and households affected by the May 19-27 storms.
Survivors are encouraged to apply with FEMA before visiting a DRC to get the process going as quickly as possible. For those who need help to apply, DRC staff can assist survivors on the spot. For those who are blind or low-vision, or Deaf or hard-of-hearing, assistive devices are available at the centers as well.
The three best ways to apply are online: www.disasterassistance.gov; by phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362); and download the FEMA app and apply on a mobile device.
Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. FEMA also can connect survivors by phone with language interpreters who can help complete their application or answer questions.