FEMA opens Eunice office

The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a Disaster Recovery Center Wednesday at Word Ministries, 1960 West Laurel in Eunice.
The center first opened from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Today, the center is to open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and continue those hours seven days a week, Traci Brenner, center manager said.
The center is in response to flooding that began Aug. 13.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot estimates more than 200 houses in the Eunice area flooded in a storm that dumped about 20 inches of rain on the area.
The FEMA center will be staff by six people, Brenner said. The Small Business Administration will have presence and volunteer groups such as the Red Cross may have representatives on hand, she said.
Flood victims can check on their applications and make applications at the center, she said.
“And they can talk to a person live. A lot of people like to talk to people in person and they find out so much better than talking to someone on the phone,” she said.
“We just say come in no matter what. Just come and we’ll talk to you. We’ll register you. We will get you all set up and get the process going,” Brenner said.
Accomodations are available for the deaf and blind, she said. Interpreters also are available.
Fontenot at first thought the center would be located at the Northwest Center, but said FEMA representatives decided on the Word Ministries site, which is a former Walmart store.
The site selection was made Monday, but it is not the only FEMA presence planned here.
“They are going into neighborhoods and they are going door-to-door,” Fontenot said. “They are meeting with some of the folks ... who might not have had a chance to go online and fill out a claim.”
The claim process may begin by calling 337-948-3688 in St. Landry Parish. Or, call
337-783-4357 in Acadia Parish and 337-363-3267 in Evangeline Parish.
FEMA’s number is 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online and pre-register:www.disasterassistance.gov.
Fontenot said, “The federal government is here. They are going to help us. They are going to tell us what to do and what not to do.”
Eunice is in recovery mode now, he said. “Most of the debris has been picked up. There are still people cleaning out their houses and maybe ripping out sheetrock. They still need volunteers.”
The mayor credits Parish President Bill Fontenot with the location of a disaster food assistance center at the Southeast Community Center. The state Department of Children and Family Services site is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday.
A food assistance site is also open at the Yambilee Building in Opelousas.
The parish president urged flood-affected residents to continue their cleanup.
“Just do what you need to do as you would normally do for your house and make sure your name gets in the system,” he said.
As of Wednesday morning, Fontenot said there were about 1,800 people registered in the parish with flood damage, which would include houses, apartments, business and other structures. He has estimated about 500 houses were flooded.
FEMA workers are already on the scene and visiting flooded sites, but they are not making monetary assistance available.
“All travel is pretty well back to normal,” Fontenot said.
Fontenot estimates millions of dollars in damage occurred as the result of the Aug. 13 flooding in St. Landry Parish.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said 4th District U.S. Rep. John Flemming visited Eunice Saturday.
Fontenot contacted Fleming about obtaining help for Eunice Housing Authority residents who were driven out of their residences by the flooding.
Fleming toured Eunice with the mayor and Alderman Marion “Nootsie” Sattler.