A Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Sampson County for residents suffering loss and damage due to Hurricane Matthew to obtain information about available state and federal assistance.

The DRC opened Friday and will remain open as long as the community needs it. The center is located in the upstairs conference room at the Sampson County Human Services building in Clinton, located at 360 County Complex Road, Suite 200, Room 274.

It will be open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., until further notice.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, N.C. Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Staff will offer help applying for federal assistance and updates regarding their application, as well as educate residents on what types of assistance are available and the appeals process.

“A lot of people feel more comfortable with a face-to-face interaction,” said Debra Young, media relations specialist for FEMA. “Some come in after they apply for assistance just to get more information on the process. We don’t want anyone to miss out on the assistance they need to get their life back on track.”

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits. Survivors should register even if they have insurance, Young noted.

For Matthew disaster victims who live in one of the North Carolina counties designated for individual assistance — Sampson is one of them — and have applied for help with FEMA, they may be referred to the SBA.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries. Homeowners and renters who submit an SBA application and are not approved for a loan may be considered for certain other FEMA grants and programs that could include assistance for disaster-related car repairs, clothing, household items and other expenses.

Those receiving a loan application, even if they do not believe they need a loan, should submit the application, said Karen Knapik, public affairs specialist for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Next to insurance, an SBA low-interest disaster loan is the primary source of funds for real estate property repairs and for replacing contents destroyed in the recent flooding. However, people should not wait on an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application, Knapik said.

A low-interest SBA disaster loan will help “bridge the gap,” she noted. The loan balance will be reduced by the insurance settlement for those receive one. SBA loans may be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Knapik said $10 million has already been distributed for North Carolina, “and that is just getting started.” She said about 98 percent of that has gone to homeowners. Those with no credit available elsewhere can get home loans at less than 1.6 percent interest to help them repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

“We are just trying to get the word out,” said Knapik. “We will stay in communities as long as they need us.”

Through Friday afternoon, FEMA has had 59,380 people statewide register for assistance, disbursing in excess of $52 million. Young said the traffic at the Sampson DRC Friday was “kind of weak,” but felt that as the word spread traffic would pick up.

“The county has been great,” Young said. “(Sampson assistant county manager) Susan Holder has been great at helping get the word out.”

To locate the nearest DRC nearest to you, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, go online to www.fema.gov/drc or download the ReadyNC mobile app. You may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The SBA Customer Service Center can be reached at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), sending an email to [email protected] or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at ncdps.gov.

Children

In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, many residents continue to deal with personal loss and challenging conditions. To assist in the recovery process, the USDA is providing assistance to 32 North Carolina counties, including the Clinton City Schools’ Child Nutrition Services.

A memo provided by CCS Child Nutrition Director Jeff Swartz on Friday noted that the benefits will include offering meals to all students of Clinton City Schools at no charge from Oct. 17 through Nov. 11.

During this time, each student, regardless of his or her approved meal status will be allowed one breakfast and one lunch per day at no charge, and the student’s accounts will be adjusted.

All meals will continue to meet USDA guidelines. Additional items, including milk, may be purchased at the a la carte prices. Starting on Nov. 14, student meals will return to regular pricing.

Parents and guardians who have not done so already may submit an application for free or reduced meals benefits at any time throughout the school year. Only one application is needed per household.

“Easy access to nutritious school meals will help keep students well-nourished and ready to learn as our community continues to deal with the aftermath and recovery from Hurricane Matthew,” Swartz stated.

Agriculture

Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed 39 Primary Disaster Designations for North Carolina. Sampson County was one of the areas named Friday.

“Our hearts go out to those North Carolina Farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” Vilsack stated in a news releases from the USDA.

The USDA Farm Service Agency North Carolina State Executive Director Bob Etheridge on Tuesday requested the Secretarial Disaster Designations for North Carolina’s most devastated counties post-Hurricane Matthew. Etheridge offered his thanks to Vilsack for a “quick turnaround” of 48 hours following the request.

Farmers in eligible counties are encouraged to apply for FSA Disaster Programs. They have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

The USDA reviewed the Loss Assessment Reports and determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant secretarial natural disaster designations for primary disasters areas. Those reports indicate at least one crop with losses in excess of 30 percent in those counties.

Qualified farm operators in the designated areas are eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met.

FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

The Disaster Recovery Center in Sampson is located in the upstairs conference room at the Sampson County Human Services building in Clinton, located at 360 County Complex Road, Suite 200, Room 274.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_FEMA-1.jpgThe Disaster Recovery Center in Sampson is located in the upstairs conference room at the Sampson County Human Services building in Clinton, located at 360 County Complex Road, Suite 200, Room 274.

By Chris Berendt

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Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.