LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) in Stone and Van Buren counties will transition into U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) Saturday, March 22 and Monday, March 24, respectively, state and federal recovery officials announced today.

The DRCs in Stone and Van Buren counties will remain open until 6 p.m. Friday, March 21. The SBA DLOCs will continue to offer personal assistance with completing applications for disaster loans to help Arkansas residents and businesses of all sizes recover from the Feb. 5 tornadoes.

The SBA DLOCs will operate until further notice at the following locations:

Stone County DLOC Opens Saturday, March 22
105 N. Peabody Ave., downtown across from the courthouse
Mountain View, AR 72560
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Van Buren County DLOC Opens Monday, March 24
Van Buren County Aging Program
570 Yellow Jacket Lane
Clinton, AR 72031
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The disaster recovery centers will remain open through close of business Friday, March 21 at the following locations:
Stone County DRC
Ozark Folk Center Lodge Office
1032 Park Ave.
Mountain View, AR 72560
Hours: Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Van Buren County DRC
Simmons First National Bank
1783 Highway 65 South
Clinton, AR 72031
Hours: Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and SBA officials opened the DRCs to provide one-stop, face-to-face assistance and disaster information to individuals and business owners who suffered damage as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes of Feb. 5.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from the Feb. 5 storms and tornadoes can speak with SBA representatives at the Van Buren County and Stone County DLOCs without an appointment. The Clinton and Mountain View DLOCs will remain open until further notice. SBA customer service representatives can answer questions about the SBA's loan program and explaining how an SBA disaster loan can help pay for their disaster losses.

Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations. Disaster loans from SBA are the primary source of funds for repairing and rebuilding disaster damaged private property. So far, SBA has approved more than $6.1 million in low-interest disaster loans to Arkansas residents and businesses. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

For help with questions regarding FEMA and state disaster assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or register online at www.fema.gov. The number for those with speech or hearing impairments is 1-800-462-7585. Operators are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

At the SBA DLOC, informational materials also will be available on FEMA’s Individuals and Household program as well as FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Program.

Anyone not able to visit the DLOC should call SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or visit the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.