Overview:
The meeting will highlight aid available following historic flooding on election day in November.
Governmental bodies in Texas County will learn Wednesday what aid may be received to repair flood-torn roads and bridges. Heavy damage was received Nov. 5.
The State Emergency Management Agency will be in Houston from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Texas County Justice Center, 519 N. Grand Ave, to conduct applicant briefings for local governments and non-profit agencies applying for public assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The meeting was announced Friday.
Texas County was earlier declared a federal disaster area. It was among 14 counties in Missouri.
SEMA strongly encourages all eligible agencies that plan to apply for assistance to attend one of the briefings, which explain program changes, eligibility information, the federal reimbursement process, documentation requirements and other essential program information.
KEY DETAILS
- Applicant briefings are not for the general public. The briefings are for FEMA’s Public Assistance program only, which provides financial assistance to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair of damaged roads, bridges and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of associated emergency response and recovery costs.
- All requests for Public Assistance (RPAs) must be submitted to FEMA within 30 days of the Jan. 1 disaster declaration date, or Jan. 31. RPAs must first be received and processed by SEMA before being submitted to FEMA by the deadline, so applicants should plan accordingly.
- An authorized representative for each potential applicant should attend one of the briefings to register for assistance. In-person applicant briefings can last up to four hours and provide an opportunity to meet with FEMA personnel, begin the required paperwork and ask questions. To register in a timely manner, attendees should bring their organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- Any government agency – including special districts such as road, water or sewer districts – or nonprofits in the declared counties that incurred disaster-related expenses should attend, including those that are unsure of their eligibility status. That includes 17 townships operating in Texas County.
- SEMA encourages public officials and community leaders in the affected areas to share this information with all potential applicants to ensure they have an opportunity to attend a briefing and submit an RPA.
- For those who are unable to attend a briefing, a recorded video and other important information will be available online at sema.dps.mo.gov/programs/state_public_assistance.php (video will be located under DR-4855 tab). For questions about the applicant briefings or Public Assistance program, please call 573-526-9378.
For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, visit recovery.mo.gov.