COLUMBIA, Mo. -- At the close of business Thursday, July 28, the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Taylor Performing Arts Center in Joplin will move to the Landmark Center Shopping Mall in Joplin to reopen Friday morning at 9 a.m.

The new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) /State DRC is at the following location:

Jasper County
Landmark Center Shopping Mall
2640 E. 32nd St.
Suite 5
Joplin, MO 64804
Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Libby Turner expressed FEMA's appreciation to the administration at Missouri Southern State University saying, ";We want to thank the university for their generosity in making space available for the DRC. Their role with Joplin tornado survivors is another example of the importance of the effort and collaboration of the whole community in disaster recovery."

FEMA affirmed it will maintain a presence in Joplin as recovery from the spring and early summer severe storms, flooding and tornadoes continues.

Before visiting a DRC, survivors are urged to first register with FEMA. Registration may be completed online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by smartphone through m.FEMA.gov, or by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). If the applicant has a speech disability or hearing loss and uses a TTY, call 1-800-462-7585. If the applicant uses 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 1-800-621-3362. Multi-language assistance is available. Telephone registration is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily, until further notice.

SBA low-interest disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters also may be eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government's primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA disaster loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech disability or hearing loss, who use a TTY, should call 800-462-7585; or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 800-621-3362.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.