FEMA Disaster recovery centers in St. Louis to Close Permanently This Week
ST. LOUIS,MO – Residents of St. Louis affected by the May 16 tornado have until Thursday to access in-person assistance at Federal emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster recovery centers, after which the centers will close for good. The closure marks a shift in the recovery process as the agency transitions to online and phone-based support.
The two recovery centers, located at Union Tabernacle Missionary Baptist church and the Urban League Entrepreneurship and Women’s Business Centre, opened in late June to aid residents navigating the disaster assistance application process. FEMA staff have been assisting with applications, answering questions, and facilitating document uploads.However, a FEMA spokesperson noted a recent trend of individuals visiting the centers primarily to check application statuses – a service readily available online.
The closure impacts the more than 9,000 people who have already received over $46 million in aid following the tornado. For residents like stanley Prince, whose initial application was denied due to a discrepancy in his housing status reported by a healthcare provider, the centers proved crucial. “I didn’t know that I had to take the deed down to the city to get it processed,” Prince said after a fourth visit to the Union Tabernacle center. He was able to rectify the issue with assistance from FEMA staff and submitted his application before the august 26 deadline.
After Thursday, residents can continue to seek assistance through disasterassistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or via the FEMA app. Late applications and appeals of previous FEMA decisions may still be considered.
