Flood recovery site opens in Osage County

Walter Northcutt walks along Boeing Drive as he checks on his neighbors efforts to keep floodwater from Meramec River out of their homes on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Walter Northcutt walks along Boeing Drive as he checks on his neighbors efforts to keep floodwater from Meramec River out of their homes on Thursday, May 4, 2017.

Mid-Missouri residents in need of federal relief assistance following this spring's flooding can talk with a Federal Emergency Management Agency representative face to face at a new temporary Disaster Recovery Center in Osage County.

From 9 a.m.-7 p.m. through Saturday, representatives will be available to provide individual assistance at the Osage Community Center, located at 1811 U.S. 50 East, adjacent to State Technical College of Missouri in Linn.

Residents of counties named in the disaster declaration - including Osage, Maries and Gasconade counties - who experienced damage to their home between April 28 and May 11 could be eligible for assistance based on their level of need. Victims must register by Aug. 1 to receive assistance.

Alberto Pillot, FEMA public information officer, said the on-site center gives disaster victims three options to register.

"Prior to the disaster recover center being in Osage County, disaster victims could only either sign up online or call the 800 number or go to neighboring counties who had a site," Pillot said. "Now they can speak to people one on one about their case."

Homeowners, renters and business are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a disaster recovery center.

"Currently there are over 1,400 applicants for assistance and that number continues to grow, but we highly recommend that victims keep in touch with FEMA by calling 800-621-3362," Pillot said.

Survivors could be eligible to receive emergency assistance, as well as help with immediate needs like personal property, rental assistance, utility assistance and more. Registration is available online at disasterassistance.gov.

FEMA advises anyone planning to apply for assistance at the recovery center to come prepared with information including Social Security number, address of location where damage occurred, current mailing address and telephone number, insurance information, total household annual income, routing and account number to transfer disaster assistance funds, and a description of disaster-caused damage and losses.