Assistance deadline a month away

Oct. 16--The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration is a month away.

The deadline to submit an SBA loan application or to apply for FEMA assistance is Nov. 14.

"If you were referred by FEMA to the SBA, you should complete an SBA disaster loan application as soon as possible," said Dana Laurie, spokeswoman for the SBA. "The assistance process stops completely if those applications are not completed."

People who apply for an SBA loan do not have to accept the loan, however, it is a necessary part of the process, Laurie added.

"They have time after the loan is approved to make a decision on whether to accept the loan," Laurie said. "However, they must apply before the deadline or SBA can't help them. If they are not approved for an SBA loan, they will be referred back to FEMA for any other grant assistance that may be available. If they do not complete the SBA loan application they will not be eligible for other assistance."

Scott Sanders, a FEMA spokesperson, said the SBA loan process is important for FEMA Assistance.

"A lot of times when people receive a determination letter saying that they are ineligbile to receive federal assistance, the reality is they likely failed to complete the SBA application. The SBA is a huge part of disaster assistance for individuals. SBA steps up for individuals and businesses in times of disasters."

Residents and business owners who would like to apply online for an SBA loan can go online to www.sba.gov/disaster.

For one-on-one assistance, go to the Business Recovery Center located at 715 Bay Street in Brunswick.

People who want to apply for FEMA assistance can go to the disaster recovery center at the Ballard Park Complex, 323 Old Jesup Road in Brunswick.

As of Friday, FEMA has approved nearly $10 million in federal disaster money in Georgia for Irma Recovery.

Those numbers include $9.9 million in individual and household program grants to help survivors with critical needs, temporary rental assistance and damage to homes and personal property.

That figure also includes nearly $4.4 million in temporary rental assistance to provide survivors with a temporary place to live while they repair their homes or find other permanent housing; nearly $2.6 million in housing repair assistance and nearly $2.9 million in other needs assistance.

Additionally, more than $5 million in National Flood Insurance Program claims have been paid, with more than 1,800 claims submitted.

As of Friday, the U.S. Small Business Administration approved $873,400 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

FEMA has also created a web page with resources for individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs at fema.gov/resources-people-disabilities-access-functional-needs.

Everybody has a right to appeal a decision from FEMA.

The first step is to read the determination letter carefully to understand FEMA's decision and exactly what is needed to appeal, Sanders said.

People who do not understand the letter, should take it to the disaster recovery center.

The hours of operation for the center in Glynn County are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The Glynn County center is closed on Sundays.

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