FEMA comes to town, finally

By PAT STANLEY, Register Staff Writer

Although only a handful of Napa flood victims showed up at the first day of a federal assistance program Thursday, officials are bracing for many more in the days ahead.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration set up shop in temporary buildings on the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency campus, 2261 Elm St., where victims of the New Year's flood can seek help ranging from grants and loans to housing and psychological counseling.

Local and state services offered at the one-stop location earlier from the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and state and local agencies are still available at the same site.

Although much of the flood damage has been cleaned or hauled away since the flood left an estimated $115 million in damage, "for anybody victimized, this is still very real," observed FEMA spokesman John Treanor.

The door was opened for FEMA and the SBA to establish the Napa assistance center when President Bush declared Napa and nine other California counties major disaster areas last week.

A FEMA team and representatives from the SBA have been in Napa for several days, meeting with county officials and representatives of the state Office of Emergency Services, prior to opening the help center.

Since the flood, more than 800 families visited the center, seeking help from the county, city of Napa, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other agencies. Many of the same victims and others are now expected to return to seek federal assistance, Treanor said.

SBA representative Charmagne Husmann said while FEMA offers grants for temporary housing, repairs and other essential needs, her agency will take requests for low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations affected by the flood.

Businesses can qualify for loans of up to $1.5 million, with up to 30 years to pay off those loans. Small businesses having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the flood may also be eligible for low-interest economic injury disaster loans.

Homeowners can apply for loans up to $200,000 for real estate losses. Homeowners and renters who qualify can obtain loans up to $40,000 for personal property losses.

Rates for homeowner loans can be as low as 2.687 percent, Husmann said. Business loan rates can be as low as 4 percent.

Assistance available from the two federal agencies includes:

* Rental payment for temporary housing.

* Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance.

* Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other programs.

* Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks.

* Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not otherwise compensated.

* Small business loans.

* Agricultural loans for property loss other than that of a primary residence.

* Other relief programs including crisis counseling, income tax assistance, legal help, veterans benefits and Social Security matters.

Disaster victims should contact their insurance representatives as soon as possible, and be able to provide information to federal officials, who cannot make payments for anything already covered by insurance.

Federal inspectors will visit flood sites to verify all claims.

Husmann and Treanor said flood victims can pre-register by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Hearing and speech impaired can call 1-800-462-7585 for TTY services. The phones are staffed daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Registration can also be completed online at www.fema.gov.

Husmann said the deadline to apply for homeowner and rental damage claims is April 4. Businesses have until Nov. 3 to apply for any economic loss reimbursement.

Additional information about SBA services can be found at www.sba.gov/disaster or by calling 1-800-659-2955.

When FEMA came to Napa following the Sept. 3, 2000, earthquake, more than 5,000 victims sought federal assistance. FEMA approved nearly 4,000 housing program applications totaling $5.1 million; the SBA approved another 1,025 low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $17.3 million.

The flood assistance center will be open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A similar FEMA and SBA assistance center opened Thursday in Marin County.

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