SBA approves 1,299 loans totaling $62,792,500

Published 7:18 am Wednesday, December 4, 2019

From staff reports

 

The deadline to register for physical damage with FEMA was Tuesday, December 3, however, the agency is still working hard to assist those who have registered.

Businesses and Non-Profit Organization may still apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage. The deadline for filing an application for Economic Injury is July 6, 2020.

More than $63.6 million in disaster grants has been approved for Texas homeowners and renters who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses from those storms. The total includes:

  • More than $53.8 million in housing grants for people to assist in rebuilding or repairing their homes and to provide a safe place to stay right now while they consider their long-term housing options. 
  • More than $9.8 million in grants for Other Needs Assistance to survivors.
  • FEMA inspectors have completed 21,721 home inspections or more than 99 percent of assigned inspections in all declared counties. 11 inspectors remain in the field.
  • DRCs have received 6,186 visits.
  • DSA completed operations as of Nov. 22, 2019. Teams visited 38,739 homes, had 14,838 survivor interactions, performing 1,093 registrations in local communities. 
  • SBA has approved 1,293 applications for low-interest disaster loans for more than $62 million as of Monday, December 2, 2019.

National Flood Insurance Program received 10,531 claims, 8,357 of which (or 79 percent) have closed with the total amount paid of $544.5 million, as of Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019.

State/federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are open in Orange County from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week (Monday – Saturday) unless otherwise noted and until further notice. Survivors with damages within the designated counties can visit any available Disaster Recovery Center to seek assistance.

The DRC is located at:
Orange County Convention and Expo Center
11475 Farm to Market Road 1442
Orange, TX 77630

Thru Saturday, Dec. 7, FEMA flood mitigation specialists can answer questions about home repair, making disaster plans, putting together supply kits and the importance of flood insurance. Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property damage by lessening the impact of future disasters. 

 Mitigation specialists will be available at:

Home Depot
603 Strickland Drive
Orange, TX 77630

Monday – Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More mitigation events will be held at home improvement stores in disaster-affected Texas counties in the coming weeks.

FEMA mitigation experts also are available at all Disaster Recovery Centers.

Texas residents affected by the recent severe storms are advised to get proper permits when rebuilding their damaged property. Every part of a building — from roofs, walls and siding to plumbing, septic systems and heating/air conditioning systems — may require a permit before rebuilding. Permits protect owners, residents, communities and buildings by making sure repairs and/or construction meet current building codes, standards, floodplain ordinances and construction techniques.