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December 4, 2008

FEMA, SBA deadlines Dec. 12

By David Ball

PORT ARTHUR — Peter Lembessis, FEMA public information officer is reminding residents the deadline to register with the federal agency for disaster assistance is Friday, Dec. 12, with no extension date in sight.

Another reminder to those rebuilding should pay attention to mitigation tips on how to rebuild the right way so their homes won’t be destroyed. Those tips may be found at www.fema.gov. He said those who have followed these tips, their homes are still standing.

Lembessis also announced more than 700 families are occupying mobile homes in Jefferson, Orange and Chambers Counties. Jefferson County has 155 mobile homes set up, Orange County has 1,250 on the ground and Chambers County has 126 mobile homes. Additionally, there are more than 500 on the ground waiting for connections.

Likewise, Carl Sherrill, communications specialist with the Small Business Administration said their deadline is also Friday, Dec. 12. He advised residents to get their applications in to the SBA. He, too, foresees no extension date.

“It’s time to get it done. Just do it. Maintain your eligibility,” he said.

Sherrill announced there will be SBA Disaster Recovery Workshops. The special workshops for business owners will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Bridge City High School cafeteria. The second workshop for the general public or private sector is set from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., also on the same day and same location.

Registrants should bring their FEMA registration number and insurance declaration number on page one of the policy. Registrants need not have their insurance settled and they can still apply with the SBA if they were turned down by FEMA. They can also make a loan and wait for six months if they are not ready.

Sherrill said statewide, $374 million has been approved with $22.3 million approved for Jefferson County. Five percent of registrants have returned their SBA applications while the other 95 percent of applications still haven’t made it back to the SBA.

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