Important Information from the Polk County Long Term Recovery Committee

IT IS VITAL THAT YOU REGISTER WITH FEMA & SBA
FRIDAY JUNE 26 IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER

You may register with FEMA online at www.fema.gov or call 800-621-3362
Apply with SBA at Mena Fire Station 603 DeQueen St or call 800-827-5722

It has been more than 10 weeks since the April 9 Tornado, and much has been
accomplished. Many homes have new roofs, new siding and new paint. The City and County Crews along with countless volunteers, organizations and agencies have worked feverishly to recover from the storm.

And there is still much to be done.

The Polk County Long Term Recovery Committee along with CRWRC will be conducting an area wide Community Assessment to determine un-met needs.

The Assessment Teams will be conducting door to door visits along with walk in interviews from June 22nd through July 1st.

Appointments can be made by calling 479-394-3534 or in person at the
Community Assessment Command Center at 1201 College Drive , Mena,
open 8:00 am until 6:00 pm. The Command Center will be open Saturday June 27 8:00 am until 4:00 pm for your convenience. We are here for you!

Polk County Long Term Recovery Committee

See ALL Current Members of the Polk County Long Term Recovery Committee please to MissionMena.org

URGENT-

TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Little Rock, Ark –Just two weeks remain before the June 26 deadline to register for assistance for Arkansans affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on April 9. Officials with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge anyone affected to make sure they have applied for all the federal assistance for which they may be eligible.

Individuals and business owners must have filed an application with FEMA by June 26, 2009 to be eligible for the variety of individual assistance programs made available to homeowners, renters and business owners in Ashley, Miller, Polk and Sevier counties.

To apply for disaster assistance, call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. Phone lines are open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight. An application also may be made online at www.fema.gov.

In a disaster declaration, the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) is the primary source of financial assistance. If you have received an SBA loan application, you must complete and return it to be considered for an SBA disaster loan or other grants and programs. If you do not qualify for an SBA disaster loan, you will be referred to other federal or state assistance programs, such as FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program, which may cover essential disaster-related costs such as clothing, furniture, appliances, transportation and medical expenses.

Applicants will not be considered for ONA until they have applied to and been denied by SBA. You can get help by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or on-line at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
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The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state's homeland security and emergency management agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.
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.

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 nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Disaster recovery assistance is available to any individual without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

Editors: For more information on Arkansas disaster recovery, visit http://www.fema.gov or http://www.adem.arkansas.gov/.

FREE Legal Services

Free Legal Services Available to Those Affected by the April 9 severe storms and tornadoes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In the aftermath of the severe storms and tornadoes of April 9, disaster-affected residents may find they need help with disaster-related legal issues. Free legal advice and referrals are available for those who may need assistance.

The Arkansas Bar Association in association with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division—made up of attorneys who volunteer their time and knowledge—can offer advice on issues involving landlord/tenant problems, disaster-related contract matters, insurance, replacement of legal documents, counseling on mortgage foreclosure, and a number of other concerns.

The contact number is 877-321-8815. When you call, you will be asked to leave your name and phone number. An attorney will then call you back as soon as possible; 877-321-8815 is operational daily around the clock.

No member of the volunteer attorney group will accept fee-generating cases. Their services are authorized only to assist in resolving issues arising out of the disaster.

Polk County Long Term Recovery Meeting

The group working to establish a Long Term Recovery plan for Polk County will meet Tuesday, May 12 at 4 p.m. in Dallas Avenue Baptist Church Sanctuary .

Representatives from any organization interested in helping Polk County and Mena recover from the tornado are welcome to attend and participate in developing the plan.

If you have questions, contact Keith Rose at 234-6637.

FEMA Disaster Relief Center Locations and Hours

Present and Future DRC Locations and Hours
Current as of 9:00 am Friday May 8

Polk County – St Agnes Catholic Church Parishioners Hall
207 N 8th
Mena 71953

7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday until Monday, May 11

Beginning Monday, May 11,
Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Final closing date to be determined

Sevier County – Old Library
105 S. 5th
DeQueen 71832
Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8 – 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Sunday May 10 is the last day in DeQueen

Miller County – Doddridge Community Center
9345 Highway 160
Doddridge 71834
Monday May 11 – Noon to 6:00 pm
Tuesday – 8:00 to 6:00 pm
Tuesday May 12 is the last day in Doddridge

Ashley County – Meridian Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
4593 Ashley Street
Crossett 71635

Thursday May 14 – Noon to 6:00 pm
Friday and Saturday – 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday – closed
Monday May 18 and Tuesday – 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday May 19 is the last day in Crossett

New News Links from FEMA

Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornadoes
Declared April 27, 2009
Disaster Recovery Center Reopens In Miller County For Two Days, May 7
SBA Disaster Loans - Not Just For Businesses, May 6
No Loss Of Benefits For Senior Citizens Receiving Disaster Aid, May 6
Receiving A Denial Letter May Not Be The Last Word, May 5
Community Relations Teams Reach Out To Those Who Need Information, May 5
Assistance Available For Non-Citizens, May 4
Applying For FEMA Disaster Assistance—Frequently Asked Questions, May 4
When The Inspector Comes To Your Damaged Property, May 2
Disaster Recovery Center To Open In Miller County For Three Days, May 1
Apply For Assistance Even If You Have Insurance, May 1
Registering With Voluntary Agencies For Disaster Aid Does Not Register You With FEMA, Apr 29
FIVE Arkansas Disaster-Affected Counties Designated For FEMA Public Assistance Aid, Apr 29
Federal Aid Programs For Arkansas Disaster Recovery, Apr 28
Tornado Victims Urged To Register With Fema For Disaster Aid, Apr 28
President Declares Major Disaster For Arkansas, Apr 27
More information about Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornadoes

More FEMA information

Please continue to visit the FEMA website for more valuable information concerning our community. It is very important that all those affected by the April 9th, tornado contact FEMA and see what is available on an individual basis. The FEMA team is here to help. Please visit their website to read the important incoming news. For new FEMA news check here.