Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The federal U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Thursday approved Gov. Tom Wolf’s request for financial aid for residents impacted by the July 12 flash flooding event.
The news comes after Wolf’s office told LevittownNow.com Wednesday that federal grants through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would not be coming to residents after the damage assessment following the storm didn’t reach required thresholds, but SBA assistance was likely.
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The flooding hit parts of Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bensalem Township, and Northeast Philadelphia hard. The flooding was localized and not widespread like past disasters.
There have been more than 1,100 reports of damages to homes and businesses in Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, and Bristol Township. County officials said they estimate as many as 400 people were displaced by the flooding.
“The devastation caused by this flooding will linger in the minds of survivors for years to come,” Wolf in a statement. “But it is our hope that these low-interest loans provide much-needed assistance in helping people get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
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Below are the details on the financial aid:
Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, and SBA regulations also permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property, including vehicles. Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to restore damaged or destroyed buildings, inventory, equipment and other physical losses. Economic Injury Disaster Loans are also available and may also be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, whether or not the business sustained physical damage from the storm.
The SBA offers long-term repayment options to keep payments affordable, with terms up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
The SBA will open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) in Bucks County and Philadelphia to provide in-person assistance for those wishing to apply, and anyone from any county included in the disaster declaration can visit any DLOC location. The Tioga County DLOC will be established virtually. However, businesses and individuals may immediately obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
Bucks County:
Lower Bucks Government Services Center
7321 New Falls Rd.
Levittown, PA 19055Tentative Hours of Operation:
Monday, Aug. 2: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday, Aug. 3 – Aug. 6: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, Aug. 7: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (This is the only Saturday)
Sunday, Aug. 8: CLOSED
Monday – Wednesday, Aug. 9 – Aug. 11: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 12 – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PMPhiladelphia:
Katharine Drexel Library
11099 Knights Rd.
Philadelphia, PA 19154Tentative Hours of Operation:
Monday, Aug. 2: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday, Aug. 3 – Aug. 6: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, Aug. 7: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (This is the only Saturday)
Sunday, Aug. 8: CLOSED
Monday – Wednesday, Aug. 9 – Aug. 11: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 12 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tioga:
Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center (VDLOC)
Hours of Operation:
Sunday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Customer Service Center: 800-659-2955
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.govAlternatively, loan applications can be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster and completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The SBA has created a number of fact sheets to help applicants understand the SBA loan process:
The Three Step Process
FAQ for homeowners and renters
Fact Sheet for Homeowners and Renters
Fact Sheet for Businesses of All SizesThe filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 27, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury disaster loan applications is April 29, 2022.
Local, and state officials said efforts remain underway to bring more aid to the area.
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With the area not hitting federal thresholds for FEMA grants following an assessment by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the governor did not sign a disaster declaration for the area.
“A declaration on its own does not unlock any assistance – federal or state – unless thresholds are met,” said Beth Rementer, a spokesperson for the governor.
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