Castle Public Service Announcements...

This will be up top today and in the regular rotation tomorrow. No, most of the people in Greensburg don't know about the Castle and don't have internet access, either.

But their friends and family might. Just in case you are wondering why I do this.

Centralized relief center established for Greensburg residents Federal, state and local services available in Haviland

To streamline the recovery efforts in Greensburg , a Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) has been established in the nearby town of Haviland . There, Greensburg residents will be able to access services from charitable organizations and federal, state and local governments.

The center is located in Hockett Auditorium, located at the corner of Kingman and Elm streets on the campus of Barclay College .

“We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to get the services they need without having to make multiple trips to multiple locations,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Health and well-being services at the DAC

· The Salvation Army is operating a distribution point at the DAC where water, food, blankets and other necessary items can be obtained. The American Red Cross and FEMA are also on-hand with a service center that is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

· Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services personnel are available to determine Medicaid and HealthWave eligibility for those seeking medical assistance and will try to obtain verification of all items. They will also assist beneficiaries in getting duplicate ID cards.

· The Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging will have staff available to assist seniors. Case managers will be available to provide general information and assistance. They will also be able to assist with immediate needs such as housing, transportation, assistive devices and prescriptions.

Document replacement at the DAC

· The Kansas Department of Revenue is available at the DAC to provide replacement car titles, driver’s licenses and identification cards. Staff will also be available to assist taxpayers in obtaining copies of their tax returns and answer any other questions relating to their tax accounts.

· The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be making replacement birth and marriage certificates available at the DAC. Applicants in the affected area will be interviewed to establish eligibility for the requested records in order to ensure the retrieval of the correct record.

· State agencies will waive any fees associated with generating new copies of state records for victims of the Greensburg tornado.

Employment and business assistance at the DAC

· The Kansas Department of Labor is on-site to assist those affected by the severe weather to sign up for state unemployment benefits and Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

· The U.S. Small Business Administration is also at the DAC providing one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. There are also disaster loans available for all businesses and non-profit organizations. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, victims must first call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Other assistance available in Greensburg and the surrounding area

· The American Red Cross has a shelter open in Haviland and one in Mullenville for citizens displaced by the tornado, and has four emergency response vehicles in Greensburg serving food and four vehicles providing minor first aid. It also has a communications vehicle at the Haviland shelter to assist people with registering for the “Safe and Well” Web site. Finally, the Red Cross is operating an evacuation site at the Odd Fellows Lodge in St. John where storm victims can rest, meet with friends and family and eat lunch. That site will operate from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily.

· The Salvation Army is operating four canteens in Greensburg , while a Kansas National Guard mobile kitchen is also there.

· Military families in need of financial assistance or other resources can receive help through the Kansas National Guard Family Program Office. The number is (800) 432-2447 ext. 9.

· Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental food and nutrition services are available for Greensburg residents at county health departments in Dodge City , 106 E. Spruce; Pratt, 712 S. Main; and other local WIC clinics. Those residents who lost WIC checks will be able to have them replaced at WIC clinics in the surrounding area. WIC clients who lost food during the tornado can also have checks to replace that food.