WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- More than 100 days since the rain started to fall in Connecticut, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved loans totaling $278,500 to help residents recover from the flooding and storms of March 12-May 17. The SBA is urging more residents and business owners to start the recovery process by returning their disaster loan applications.
The SBA has issued 2,329 loan applications, but only 136 have been returned. The deadline to apply for SBA assistance is July 27.
“Even if you don’t want an SBA loan, or think you can’t afford it, you should complete and return the application. It can help determine if you’re eligible for other assistance,” said Mike Parker, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery. “No one will force you to take out a loan.”
The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and personal property damaged by the spring storms and flooding. If SBA determines a homeowner or renter cannot afford a loan, they will be referred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for possible Other Needs Assistance (ONA).
You do not have to wait until your insurance claim is settled to apply for an SBA loan. For more information or assistance with SBA applications, call the SBA Service Center at 800-659-2955.
Disaster assistance from FEMA continues to increase, with more than $2.6 million in grants disbursed since President Obama authorized Individual Assistance on May 28.
As of Monday, June 21, the totals were:
- $2,781,355 has been disbursed for temporary housing and home repairs;
- $107,957 has been disbursed for Other Needs Assistance such as personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
- 2,424 individuals in designated counties have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance.
“While FEMA will be here to help Connecticut recover from this spring’s flooding, there is a July 27 deadline to apply for individual assistance,” Parker said. “We want everyone to get all the aid they are entitled to, but you have to apply to get it.”
People can register for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are speech or hearing impaired can call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Both lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Eastern time) every day until further notice. Residents should note that reporting their damage to 2-1-1 did not register them for FEMA assistance.
To register for assistance, you will need the property address, a description of the damage, contact telephone numbers, Social Security numbers of residents, bank account routing numbers, and insurance policy information.
Individual assistance is available in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham counties.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders and to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.