Springfield, MO -- Only a few days remain to visit a Disaster Recovery Center and talk face-to-face with recovery specialists.

The centers are temporary educational resource centers coordinated by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

On Wednesday, June 18, the Disaster Recovery Center in Jackson will close at 3 p.m. On Thursday, June 19, the center in Canton will close at 3 p.m. On Friday, June 20, the center in Carl Junction will close at 2 p.m. Also on June 20, the center in Mt. Vernon will close at 4 p.m. and the center in Stockton will close at 6 p.m. On Saturday, June 21, the center in De Soto will close at 2 p.m.

Visiting a center is not required and assistance will still be only a toll-free phone call away. However, given the wide range of state and federal disaster assistance programs, many people find it helpful to visit Recovery Centers, which are free and open to the public. The centers provide an opportunity for disaster survivors to get hands-on help with their specific disaster-related questions and tasks, such as filling out disaster loan applications with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or updating their registration with FEMA.

"This is a good opportunity for people who have received a settlement from their insurance company to come to a Disaster Recovery Center and update their application with us for disaster assistance," said Mike Karl, federal coordinating officer for the recovery effort.

Recovery officials encourage those affected by the May tornadoes, severe storms and flooding which occurred between May 4 and May 30 to first register for disaster assistance by calling
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Persons who are hearing- or speech-impaired can apply by calling a TTY number: 1-800-462-7565. Multilingual operators also are available when needed. The application deadline is July 7, 2003.

The Disaster Recovery Centers will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at the following locations until the closing dates listed below.

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS CLOSING SCHEDULE

• National Guard Armory
  224 W. Park Street, Jackson
  Closes Wednesday, June 18 (3 p.m.)
  
  
• United Methodist Church
  601 Washington Street, Canton
  Closes Thursday, June 19 (3 p.m.)
  
  
• Christian Church Of Carl Junction
  103 Hodge Street, Carl Junction
  Closes, Friday, June 20 (2 p.m.)
  
  
• Old First National Bank
  108 S. Hickory, Mt. Vernon
  Closes Friday, June 20 (4 p.m.)
  
  
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
  South Highway 39, Stockton
  Closes Friday, June 20 (6 p.m.)
  
  
• Redeemer Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
  1620 Boyd Street, De Soto
  Closes Saturday, June 21 (2 p.m.)