SBA Stands Ready to Assist Georgia Residents Affected by Severe Storms and Flooding

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration in Georgia for several counties affected by the severe storms and flooding that began on September 18, 2009, Administrator Karen G. Mills of the U.S. Small Business Administration issued the following statement:

“The U.S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the people of Georgia with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and small businesses with federal disaster loans. Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

The disaster declaration covers Carroll, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Stephens counties in Georgia, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Banks, Bartow, Coweta, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gordon, Habersham, Haralson, Heard, Pickens, Polk and Walker in Georgia; Cherokee, Cleburne and Randolph in Alabama and Oconee in South Carolina.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage in the future.

For small businesses and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday, September 26th and 27th from 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. EDT or sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Georgia residents affected by this disaster may fill out a loan application online by visiting SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 23, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2010.

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President Obama Signs Georgia Disaster Declaration for 5 Counties

The President yesterday declared a major disaster exists in the State of Georgia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on September 18, 2009, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Gracia B. Szczech as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time)

For further information: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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President Declares Major Disaster For Georgia

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) yesterday announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the State of Georgia to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds beginning on March 26, 2009, and continuing.

Acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Obama. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler, and Worth counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds in the counties of Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Early, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, and Ware.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Terry L. Quarles has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Quarles said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

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Georgia Receives Presidential Disaster Declaration for 14 Counties Damaged By Mother’s Day Tornadoes

Governor Sonny Perdue announced that President George W. Bush approved a Federal Disaster Declaration today for the 14 counties that Governor Perdue requested aid for following the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that hit Georgia on May 11-12.

“I am grateful to President Bush and FEMA Director Paulison for their quick action in offering assistance,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “This Federal Disaster Declaration will broaden our capability to recover from these devastating storms.”

This means that individual assistance is now available to disaster victims in 10 counties: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs.
The President has also designated that Bibb, Carroll, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, Treutlen, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties will all be able to receive federal funds to help offset 75 percent the cost of the initial emergency response, debris removal and restoration of damaged public facilities.

For the counties receiving individual assistance, aid can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Governor Perdue made the request May 16 for a federal declaration after touring the areas and reviewing preliminary damage assessment figures.

Residents and business owners in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs counties who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information and updates, visit http://www.gema.ga.gov/.

Isakson, Chambliss Announce Over $600,000 in Funding for Georgia’s First Responders

U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) today announced $609,226.88 in Fiscal Year 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) awards for Georgia.

The funding is provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Department of Homeland Security.

“This funding will go a long way to help ensure that Georgia’s first responders have the resources necessary to protect families and communities across the state,” said Isakson.

“Local firefighters and emergency workers provide our first defense to natural disasters, accidents and terrorist attacks,” Chambliss said. “It is because these brave men and women are often the first on the scene of any incident that we must continue to ensure they have the tools and training they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently. I look forward to continuing to work with local fire departments and emergency responders across the state to ensure they have the resources they need.”

CEDAP provides smaller communities and rural areas with technology and equipment, together with training and technical assistance, to help enhance first responder capabilities throughout the nation. CEDAP provides resources such as communications interoperability equipment, information sharing technology, chemical detection devices, sensors, personal protective equipment and rescue tools and training in how to use the equipment, devices and technology.

The Georgia grants are listed below:

Alto Police Department – Alto, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
Athens-Clarke County Police Department – Athens, Ga. - $11,500 for Law Enforcement
Bartow County Emergency Management Agency – Cartersville, Ga. - $30,935.80 for Emergency Management
Berlin Police Department – Berlin, Ga. - $38,764.62 for Law Enforcement
Calhoun Police Department – Calhoun, Ga. - $8,499 for Law Enforcement
Canton Police Department – Canton, Ga. - $26,900 for Law Enforcement
Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services – Canton, Ga. - $15,300 for Fire Department
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office – Canton, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
City of Climax Police Department – Climax, Ga. - $38,764.62 for Law Enforcement
City of Hinesville Police Department – Hinesville, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
Colquitt Police Department – Colquitt, Ga. - $11,500 for Law Enforcement
Cordele Police Department – Cordele, Ga. - $11,500 for Law Enforcement
Douglas County Emergency Management Agency – Douglasville, Ga. - $24,175 for Emergency Management
Dublin Police Department – Dublin, Ga. - $8,499 for Law Enforcement
Early County Sheriff’s Office – Blakely, Ga. - $24, 175 for Law Enforcement
Euharlee Police Department – Euharlee, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
Georgia Ports Authority – Savannah, Ga. - $8,499 for Law Enforcement
Georgia Tech Police Department – Atlanta, Ga. - $32,274.90 for Law Enforcement
Henry County Police Department – McDonough, Ga. - $24,175 for Law Enforcement
Hickory Flat Fire Department, Inc. – Canton, Ga. - $12,936.15 for Fire Department
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office – Louisville, Ga. - $3,717 for Law Enforcement
Kingsland Police Department – Kingsland, Ga. - $11,500 for Law Enforcement
LaGrange Police Department – LaGrange, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
Laurens County Fire Department – Dublin, Ga. - $30,935.80 for Fire Department
Laurens County Sheriff’s Office – Dublin, Ga. - $8,499 for Law Enforcement
Leesburg Police Department – Leesburg, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Lincolnton, Ga. - $12,936.15 for Law Enforcement
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office – Madison, Ga. - $11,500 for Law Enforcement
Norcross Police Department – Norcross, Ga. - $12,000 for Law Enforcement
Perry Police Department – Perry, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
St. Marys Fire Department – St. Marys, Ga. - $12,919.94 for Fire Department
St. Marys Police Department – St. Marys, Ga. - $11,794 for Law Enforcement
Summerville Fire Department – Summerville, Ga. - $32,274.90 for Fire Department
Taylor County Sheriff’s Office – Butler, Ga. - $11,500 for Law Enforcement
Union County Emergency Management Agency - Blairsville, Ga. - $11,794 for Emergency Management
Woodstock Police Department – Woodstock, Ga. - $26,900 for Law Enforcement