FEMA Sets Up Shop At Tunxis Community College

Federal Emergency Management Agency employees from all corners of the United States converged in a corner of in Farmington Thursday and quietly got to work setting up Hartford County’s Disaster Recovery Center.

From Chicago, California, West Virginia, Florida and Maine, they came with one message: “No matter how big or small your damage is, even if you’re insured, we can do something about it,” said Stella Okoh, the center manager, who lives in Houston.

“Let us determine what damages you have and how we can help,” she said.

Okoh will direct the Hartford County team for as long as they stay — a time that will be determined according to need by the state.

While homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Tropical Storm Irene can apply for federal aid from FEMA online at fema.gov, the Disaster Recovery Center is staffed with people who understand the process, what residents may be eligible for and the best way to go about getting it. It also provides help from several angles – including the Small Business Administration and state resources.

The first step, center staff said, is to register.

“Registering with FEMA triggers an inspection and after that, all the resources can follow,” Okoh said. “You never know if FEMA can help you unless you register.”

While FEMA provides federal grants to residents, the agency will refer business owners to the SBA, which also has a team at the Tunxis disaster center.

“It’s a one-stop shop,” said Michael Flores, an SBA public information officer out of California. “People come in the door and first thing, they register with FEMA, then get turned over to SBA to explore loan opportunities.”

He said sometimes people back away when they hear "loans," but following a disaster, sometimes it’s necessary. People have misconceptions, too, he said.

“Oftentimes people shut off when they hear ‘small business’ but we help homeowners, renters and businesses,” Flores said.

The program offers homeowners up to $200,000 in loans for disaster-related structural damage as well as up to $40,000 for a home’s contents for both homeowners and renters. Small business owners are eligible for up to $2 million for either structural damage or economic injury, Flores explained.

“In those instances, sometimes it’s a washed-out road, or the power being out caused a loss in revenue. These loans can allow you to keep paying your payroll or to stay afloat,” he said.

The center will be open at Tunxis Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The deadline to register is Nov. 3, 2011.

When applying for assistance, FEMA reminds you to bring:

• Your Social Security number (Business - EIN)
• Current and pre-disaster address.
• A telephone number where you can be contacted.
• Insurance information.
• Total household annual income (Business- financial information)
• A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account)
• A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.
• Directions to your property.

Those who don’t use the disaster center can apply by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at disasterassistance.gov. The TTY line for people with speech or hearing disabilities is 800-462-7585.