Nearly A Million Dollars Approved For Arkansas Disaster Assistance

Release Date: May 15, 2009
Release Number: 1834-026

» More Information on Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornadoes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- State and federal officials announce that nearly a million dollars in disaster aid has been approved for residents in Ashley, Miller, Polk, and Sevier counties who are recovering from the severe storms and tornadoes of April 9.

Recovery summary information is as follows:

$722,000 is approved to help disaster-affected Arkansans with temporary housing and home repairs.
$146,000 is approved for the repair or replacement of personal property, transportation, medical, dental and funeral expenses.
$103,000 is approved for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for homeowners. SBA loans are the largest source of disaster funds for making substantial repairs or rebuilding damaged structures to their pre-disaster condition. Actual loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition. The low-interest disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters and business owners.
1,500 homes were visited by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Community Relations (CR) specialists. They have talked with more than 1,200 residents and visited 250 businesses. CR has shared recovery information with faith-based and community-based organizations in the disaster-affected counties. Specialists assisted residents in Ashley County without telephone service register for assistance by using FEMA cell phones.
811 residents registered for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration number: 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight until further notice. Multilingual operators are also available. Online registration can be done at www.fema.gov or www.disasterassistance.gov
724 people visited Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to talk face to face with recovery specialists, get help filling out an SBA loan application and check the status of their applications. DRCs are at the following locations:

Polk County (open until further notice)

St. Agnes Catholic Church Parish Hall
207 N. 8^th Street, Mena, Arkansas 71953

Hours:

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and Memorial Day, May 25.

Ashley County (closing at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 19)

Meridian Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
4593 Ashley St.
Crossett, AR 71635

Hours:

Fri./Sat., May 15-16       noon to 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Monday, May 18           9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19           9 a.m. closing at 6 p.m.

408 damage inspections are complete. Those who are waiting for an inspector to come are reminded to keep their appointments.
105 residents have received free information from FEMA mitigation specialists on how to rebuild using disaster-resistant techniques. These specialists are at several local building supply stores throughout the disaster area.
People living or working in Ashley, Miller, Polk and Sevier counties whose jobs have been affected by recent severe storms may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.

DUA claims may be filed at the following locations:

Miller and Sevier counties-Texarkana Local Office, 1702 Hampton Road in Texarkana (870-216-4011)
Polk County-Mena local office, 601 C. Highway 72 North (479-394-3060).
Ashley County-El Dorado Local Office, 523 E. Sixth St. (870-862-6456)
Monticello Local Office, 477 S. Main St. (870-367-2476)

Office hours for the above are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Deadline to file for Miller, Polk and Sevier County is May 29
Deadline to file for Ashley County is June 9.

Legal Assistance is available for those who may need advice on disaster-related legal issues such as insurance claims, landlord-tenant problems, replacement of legal documents or other legal issues. The number to call is 877-321-8815 (open daily around the clock).
Those who may be experiencing stress as a result of the storms and need counseling can call one of the following numbers to get help.
Polk County:
- 1-800-542-1031 Lines are open daily, around the clock; or
- If you live in Mena, you may call Polk County Clinic at 479-394-5277. Lines are open from 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., weekdays. After hours, an answering machine will take your call-back information or you may choose to be switched to an emergency number.
Miller or Sevier counties:
- 1-800-652-9166 Lines are open daily, around the clock
Ashley County:
- Call: 1-870-364-6471 Lines are open on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Emergency number: 1-800-323-2703 Lines are open daily, around the clock.
FEMA and Arkansas are implementing the use of temporary housing units as one of the housing solutions to assist displaced Arkansans. This type of housing is used as a last resort when rental properties are non-existent. At this time, housing units are en route from a staging area in Hope Arkansas to a local staging area where the delivery and the setup process will follow. Local codes and ordinances may require "local inspections" of electrical, sewer and propane connections before FEMA is permitted to issue keys to potential occupants.
Arkansans affected by the disaster may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS is postponing certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster-designated counties until June 8, 2009.The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between April 9, 2009, and June 8, 2009. Additional tax relief information may be found at www.IRS.gov or by calling the IRS disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227. The online IRS news release with Arkansas information can be found at www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=207356,00.html
FEMA voluntary agency liaisons are assisting Mena in developing a long-term recovery committee. Committees include finance/donations, case management, assessment, volunteer coordination, emotional/spiritual care and rebuilding. Long term recovery committees are made up of local non-profit voluntary and faith-based organizations dedicated to assisting disaster-affected residents with unmet needs. FEMA liaisons are also assisting Catholic Charities in DeQueen with casework training for 20 volunteers.
The FEMA Helpline option at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 is available daily from 8 a.m. to midnight for those who want to check on the status of their application or to update their contact information. Online updates can be made at www.disasterassistance.gov. The deadline to apply for assistance is June 26, 2009.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terrorism.

Last Modified: Friday, 15-May-2009 16:47:34

FEMA 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472
Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA