Registration Extended for Missouri Flooding Aid

The registration period for those in Missouri impacted by the severe storms and flooding beginning in mid-March has been extended 30 days through June 26, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). This deadline is only for the flood disaster originally declared March 19 for the period March 17-May 9.

To register, call the FEMA Helpline and registration number,1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). The TTY number for the speech- or hearing-impaired is 1-800-462-7585. Online, register at www.fema.gov. The registration line is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

The FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1930 Virginia Ave., Joplin, MO 64804 remains open to help any disaster registrants, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The deadline to submit loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration has also been extended through June 26. While no one is required to take out an SBA loan, applications are a key part of the FEMA registration process. A loan denial may open up other assistance to eligible applicants.

The disaster declaration for the flooding authorized FEMA's Individual Assistance in the following counties: Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Christian, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Howard, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, St. Louis, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Webster.

The standard flood insurance policies from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program have a 60-day period to file proof of loss. That deadline would have been May 16. Policyholders in Missouri have been given an extension to July 15 to file claims with their carriers.

To date, FEMA has approved more than $12.12 million in aid to disaster households, while the SBA has approved more than $5.57 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations.