FEMA opens recovery center for tornado victims

POINSETT COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - It has been a little more than a month since the Dec. 10 storms tore through Northeast Arkansas, and homeowners are now getting the help they need.

Starting Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be opening disaster recovery sites where tornado victims can apply for federal grant money.

The money would be home repairs, some that are necessary for Trumann resident Hector Zuniga and his family.

“It’s important because of my family,” Zuniga said. “I want to make sure they have a home, and I want them to feel safe again.”

Zuniga said the grant will help him put his house back together which was completely destroyed by the storms. He was just one of many who came out to the Parkview Family Life center to hear about the plans.

said that thankfully his house did not suffer too much extreme damage, but he did not have enough to afford the repairs after insurance. He said FEMA could save him and others lots of money.

“It would just be hard to recover all of your assets,” said Reeves. “I just really apricate the help they come and offer.”

Robert Rolf with FEMA stressed that there is a process everyone can go through to completely rebuild no matter how much damage their home has.

“FEMA can give up to a thirty-seven-thousand-dollar grant to get you to start,” said Rolf. “If you need more than that head right over to the SBA and they can get low-interest loans to help cover the rest.”

Rolf added that he knows there are people that are skeptical, and he pleaded for everyone that has home damage to just come down and listen to the plans they offer, saying the worst that can happen is they are not for you.

The Trumann disaster recovery center is at the Parkview Missionary Baptist Church at 104 North Parkview Drive. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

FEMA will also be opening two other disaster recovery centers in Northeast Arkansas this week.

In Craighead County, the First Baptist Church of Monette on 18847 Highway 18 will open Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 8 a.m., and it will operate Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. after Wednesday’s opening.

In Jackson County, Diaz City Hall on 3401 South Main Street in Newport will open Thursday, Jan. 20 at 8 a.m., and it will operate Thursday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. after Thursday’s opening.

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