The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is opening a Disaster Recovery Office in Mills County tomorrow (Friday). William Lindsey, Jr., with FEMA External Affairs, says the office will be open from 8-a.m. until 6-p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1-to 5-p.m., Sunday. The services will be tied-in with a Business Recovery Center that opened in Glenwood on Wednesday for the flood rebuilding and recovery. Lindsey told KJAN News FEMA is the “Mother Ship” for all disaster recovery operations in the U-S. FEMA offers grants. The SBA offers low-interest loans for disaster relief. Officials want anyone whose homes or business was affected by flooding, to register with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

You can also register online at disasterassistance.gov. By registering with FEMA, Lindsey says you can look into recovery resources available on the website, or in-person at their office in Glenwood.) Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other state and federal agencies will provide information on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of their applications at the center, which is located at 111 Lacey St., in Glenwood.

Another Disaster Recovery Center is already open in Sidney at the Fremont County Emergency Management Office (2014 290th Ave.), which is open during the same hours as the Glenwood Center. Iowa homeowners, renters and business owners in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Woodbury counties – which were included in the major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance – may apply for assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses due to severe storms and flooding from March 12 and continuing.

One-on-one assistance includes:

• Help to register for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
• Help completing paperwork and checking the status of your application.
• Help applying for the SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
• Referrals to other state, federal and voluntary organizations offering information about additional disaster assistance.
• Help understanding how to appeal FEMA eligibility decisions.
• Accommodations to meet the needs of the entire community including people with disabilities. Centers are equipped with captioned phones, video remote interpreting and assistive listening devices. If you need an accommodation or assistance due to a disability, please notify FEMA staff at the time of registration or anytime during the assistance process.

Applicants for disaster assistance should have the following information on hand:

• Social Security number
• Address of the damaged primary residence
• Description of the damage
• Information about insurance coverage