Flood Victims Line Up at Irene Recovery Center

There were about a dozen flood victims in the in Bensalem yesterday at 1 p.m. waiting for the Disaster Recovery Center to open.

The center is meant to be a one-stop shop for those dealing with flooding from Hurricane Irene in late August. Agencies located there include: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency, the county Health Department, the state Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, PennDOT, and the state Attorney General’s office. The center will be open indefinitely 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The center is located near the AMC movie theater adjacent to the mall’s management offices.

According to FEMA spokesman Mike Wade, over 500 Bucks County residents have already registered for assistance. And nearly $700,000 has been released by FEMA to county residents.

Wade told Patch that those seeking assistance should bring any evidence (photos, receipts, documents) when they visit the Recovery Center.

“Once they register, an inspector will schedule a visit to their home within two to four days,” Wade said.

The maximum amount of FEMA assistance is $30,200, Wade said.

In addition to assistance from FEMA, the homeowners, renters and businesses could also qualify for low interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

“Renters and homeowners can borrow up to $40,000 for personal items such as furniture, cars and appliances,” said SBA spokesman Kevin Wynne. “Homeowners can also apply for up to $200,000 to replace or repair their primary residences.”

Wynne said businesses can apply for $2 million for real estate, machinery and equipment damaged in Hurricane Irene flooding.

Interest rates for renters and homeowners are 2.5 percent for up to 30 years. Businesses get interest rates of 4 percent.

Wynne said that because FEMA is the direct lending arm of the federal government, a victim’s credit score isn’t as important as with private lenders.

“We can also take into consideration the victim’s ability to repay,”

Both Wade and Wynne said the victims’ insurance is the first line of defense. FEMA assistance and SBA loans are for damages not covered by insurance.

Those with insurance are asked to contact their insurance agent and file a personal claim before contacting FEMA. Additionally, anyone planning to come to a DRC should register with FEMA first, in order to maximize the efficiency of their visit.

Online registry is available at www.disasterassistance.gov, or via web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Residents also can register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).