Completed SBA Application Speeds Up Disaster Assistance

AURORA, Ill. – Illinoisans who received a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application for disaster assistance are urged to complete and return it as soon as possible. Doing so will keep the door open for other types of assistance.

SBA disaster loan applications are sent to disaster survivors who may qualify for disaster aid as a result of the April 16 to May 5 severe weather.

 “The disaster loan application provides the necessary information for determining the appropriate assistance for each applicant,” said W. Michael Moore, the federal official in charge of disaster recovery.

Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for their insurance settlement before applying to SBA. If a survivor is unsure of the amount covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the full amount of the loss, up to its loan limits.

Approval of the SBA disaster loan is contingent on the borrower’s agreement that the SBA loan will be reduced by the amount of the insurance settlement.

“We want to make sure that every disaster survivor remains eligible for help from all of the programs that are available,” added Moore. “The fastest way to accomplish that is to submit the SBA application. If SBA cannot offer a homeowner or renter a disaster loan, the agency will refer the case onward to other sources of assistance.”

Applicants are urged to read all disaster assistance documents carefully while maintaining realistic expectations of what they may receive as disaster aid.

Applicants also are encouraged to stay in touch with FEMA, to ensure FEMA has the correct current address, phone number and email address.

It is not necessary to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

SBA low-interest disaster loans may be available for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in the severe storms and flooding. Information and assistance from SBA is available at 1-800-659-2955, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339 or online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders 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.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835