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ASSISTANCE FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Important Contact Information
Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, and Scott Counties – The COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) of Southeast Missouri has compiled a list of helpful phone numbers for flood victims to help them determine assistance that is available. Regardless of the extent of the loss, whether personal or business, small or large, whether or not individuals own their home or rent, the steps flood victims should take are:
1. Register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or going online at www.fema.gov as soon as possible. This will not obligate you to take advantage of any of the programs offered. It is simply the first step in determining what assistance individuals qualify for.
2. Register with the Small Business Administration for business AND individual losses by calling 800-659-2955 or going online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
3. Register with the American Red Cross by calling Call 1-866-GET INFO (438-4636) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Hearing impaired callers may use TDD 1-800-526-1417. Callers will be connected with a local Red Cross volunteer caseworker to assess their eligibility for assistance.
4. Contact the Salvation Army at 573/335-7000. They have clean-up kits, vouchers for their thrift stores, and a food pantry as well as other resources.
5. Contact First Call for Help at 334-HELP (4357) during normal office hours (8-5, M-F) or 211 after hours and on weekends for any other needs.
Individuals are also reminded of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center that will be opening in the Maevers Shopping Center in Jackson at 502E West Main Street. The center opens Tuesday, April 8 from 1-7 that day and from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday on subsequent days until there is no longer a need. FEMA and SBA registrations will be taken at this site.
The Volunteer Intergenerational Center (VIC) is coordinating volunteer efforts for the affected area. Anyone unable to clean out their homes or in need of debris cleanup should contact VIC at 573/335-7555. It is important that individuals remove any standing water from their homes and basements due to health concerns. Individuals are also encouraged to check on their elderly neighbors who may be unable to clean out their homes or basements.
The COAD of Southeast Missouri will coordinate with local agencies and organizations in providing resources to individuals that are not met by the above federal and nonprofit organizations. However, it is important that individuals first register with FEMA, the Small Business Administration and the American Red Cross to be sure those resources are accessed first.
About United Way of Southeast Missouri
The United Way of Southeast Missouri envisions a safe, healthy, and proactively caring community in which every individual thrives during each stage of life: Healthy Babies; Successful Children; Responsible Adults; Active Seniors. The Mission of the United Way of Southeast Missouri is to serve as the leader in uniting people and resources around health and human service issues to build a stronger and healthier community. Our goal is to create lasting change that prevents problems from happening in the first place. Here in Southeast Missouri we're committed to STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. We want to ensure that: Children will grow to be successful in life. Families are financially self-sufficient. Our elderly and disabled live as independently as possible. Our citizens reach out to help our community. For more information please visit www.UnitedWayofSEMO.org or call 573-334-9634.
About United Way of America
United Way is a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and people’s lives. Building on more than a century of service as the nation’s preeminent community-based fundraiser, United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement. While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common focus areas include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting financial stability, and strengthening families. For more information about United Way of America, please visit: www.unitedway.org.
MARBLE HILL MULTI-AGENCY RESOURCE CENTER SITE CONFIRMED
Community organizations collaborate to provide services to flood victims
Cape Girardeau, MO, Saturday, March 31, 2008 – The Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) for Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott, and Bollinger Counties confirmed the location of their Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) in Marble Hill where individuals and families affected by the flooding in Southern Missouri can meet with representatives of community disaster relief agencies to register for emergency assistance and make their needs known to community organizations.
The two MARCs will be open from noon until 8:00 p.m. each day, at the following locations:
Wednesday April 2 – 1st Baptist Church Family Life Center, 502 Broadway, Marble Hill
Thursday April 3 - Delta Community Center, 211 East Street, Delta, MO
The four-county COAD is composed of representatives from public, private and not-for-profit agencies involved in community disaster relief. The COAD enhances the community’s ability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters and strive to address human needs inherent in disaster situations. A number of local disaster relief organizations plan to have representatives at the MARCs.
Residents should bring identification with them that shows their address in the flooded areas. There will also be a dumpster placed at each location for the day for disaster victims to use.
For more information about the MARCs, please call Nancy Jernigan, Executive Director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri at (573) 334-9634 or e-mail her at nancy.jernigan@unitedwayofsemo.org.
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