Wise Disaster Ctr

First disaster recovery center opens today
By SUZANNE TATE, Coalfield Progress Managing Editor

April 11, 2002

The first disaster recovery center for victims of last month's flooding will open this morning at 10 a.m. in the Wise County Industrial Park at Esserville.

The center will be located next to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's command center in a shell building at 5701 Industrial Park Road, Wise.

The disaster center will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. After today, hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.

FEMA Region 3 Director Charlotte Herbert will attend the opening of the disaster recovery center, which will provide assistance and answer questions from residents who have experienced damages and losses from severe storms and flash flooding March 17-20. Last week, President Bush issued a federal disaster declaration for Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise counties and the city of Norton. The center is for victims in any of those areas.

The first step for anyone interested in aid is to call FEMA's toll-free number 1-800-621-3362 to register. People with a hearing impairment should call 1-800-462-7585.

Since Thursday, the command center has received more than 700 telephone registrations for the disaster area - nearly 300 of those registrations are from Wise County residents and more than 25 are from people who live in Dickenson County. And this week, the first 16 aid checks were sent out to local victims, totaling $28,314 in assistance. The funds primarily were for home repairs.

FEMA is implementing the Individual and Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs for people affected by the heavy rains, mud slides and flooding. This program is for businesses and individuals who have experienced flood damage.

MA will determine where to set up other disaster recovery centers by the number and nature of telephone calls received to the toll-free numbers. The disaster recovery centers will offer face-to-face assistance to citizens in the areas that have been declared federal disaster areas.

Disaster recovery center specialists will offer information on programs including grants to pay for temporary housing needs, minimal home repairs and other serious disaster related expenses. Residents and businesses owners may also be eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Association to help cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance. A FEMA mitigation specialist will be at the center to provide help in longer term flood-damage solutions.

Information on legal services, state tax assistance, disaster unemployment assistance and social services programs also will be available.

"Our goal is to ensure that every penny of aid to which the victims are entitled goes to those victims," Lou Botta, federal coordinating officer, said last week. "This is a method to serve the most victims in the best way possible . . . it's not a cure-all, we're not going to be the salvation for everyone and we're not going to be able, in short, to make everyone whole again. . . but we will begin getting people back on their feet."

FEMA will offer assistance for emergency repairs to homes and businesses, lodging, reimbursements and resources to buy necessary living items, he said.

Through the SBA program, affected business owners can apply for long-term, low-interest loans to repair or replace items that have been damaged or destroyed. There is a financial need requirement to receive a FEMA loan. Those who are not eligible because of their ability to pay may be eligible to receive other funding.

"We want to be a safety net for disaster victims," Botta said. "We will offer access to resources and make it as easy as possible for those who have lost so much."

To register for assistance, call toll-free 1-800-621-3362 to register. People with a hearing impairment should call 1-800-462-7585. This call is required to begin the assistance process.