Flood Relief 2017

The following information is applicable to those businesses and individuals in any of the 27 counties included in the Missouri federal disaster declaration for flooding and severe storms that occurred between April 28 and May 11, 2017. 

June 26, 2017 News Release - Missouri Disaster Survivors:  Reasons to Apply for an SBA Loan

• A homeowner may be eligible for a disaster loan up to $200,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners or renters may be eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
• SBA may be able to help homeowners and renters replace important personal items such aspersonal property – including automobiles – damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

• SBA also offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.

June 24, 2017 News Release - Be Aware: How to Avoid Problems in Rebuilding

After a disaster, contractors play a major role in rebuilding an affected community. They can also give the local economy a major boost as they construct new homes and businesses. The majority of contractors are honest and professional.

At the same time, consumers need to be aware that occasionally scam artists pose as legitimate contractors in the wake of a disaster. Some people may attempt to cheat by posing as inspectors, government officials or volunteers.

Some might offer to clean up debris, but then dump it nearby, leaving the homeowner liable for the cleanup. Others might demand a big deposit up front to rebuild a home, and then vanish with the money.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Missouri’s State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) caution Missouri survivors of the recent flooding disaster to “beware and be aware.”
Read more

June 23, 2017 News Release - Missouri Renters with Flood Damage May Be Eligible for Federal Help

Survivors may be eligible for grants from FEMA to help with such disaster-related expenses as:

• Renting a new place to live when their previous home was lost due to the disaster.
• Disaster-related medical and dental expenses.
• Replacement or repair of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the disaster, such as appliances and furniture, textbooks and computers used by students, and work equipment or tools used by the self-employed.
• Repair or replacement of vehicles damaged by the disaster.
• Disaster-related funeral and burial expenses.

FEMA grants are not loans and do not have to be repaid. They are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, welfare assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or other programs.  Read more

June 10, 2017 News Release  - Register with FEMA as Soon as Possible

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency urges residents of 27
Missouri counties designated in the federal major disaster declaration to register with the agency
without delay. Registration is easy:

• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Use the FEMA app for smartphones.
• Call 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CST. Multilingual registration assistance is available. People who use 711 or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362. Those who use TTY may call 800-462-7585.

Eligible homeowners and renters may be able to receive money for disaster expenses not covered
by insurance to help pay for basic home repairs, temporary rental assistance and other needs such
as replacing personal property. FEMA Individual Assistance is grant money that does not have to
be repaid. Read more

June 10, 2017 News Release  - FEMA Offers Repair, Rebuilding Advice at Lowe's Home Improvement Stores in Newton, Phelps, St. Louis and Taney Counties. 

June 9, 2017 News Release  - Centers Open in Franklin and Jefferson Counties to Help Missouri Flood Survivors.   

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies will be at the centers to discuss assistance
and to help anyone who needs information or assistance filing an application. The new centers
are at these locations:

 The centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. A recovery center opened in
Van Buren, in Carter County, on Thursday and remains open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a
week.
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