Disaster Recovery Centers Transitioning to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

JACKSON, Miss. — Disaster recovery centers in Louisville and Tupelo will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, and will reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 12, as disaster loan outreach centers to continue serving disaster survivors.

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available at the centers to assist survivors in completing their low-interest disaster loan applications and answer questions about the loan program. Staff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will remain at the centers to assist survivors with disaster-related concerns.

The centers will remain at the following locations: 

Hours for the disaster loan outreach centers will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday until further notice. The centers will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.                                                                                                                      

Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are the largest source of federal recovery funding for homeowners, renters and business owners. They may provide financial assistance for repairing or rebuilding a home or replacing personal property, such as furniture, clothing and vehicles.

Applying for SBA low-interest disaster loans is part of the FEMA grant process. Survivors who are contacted by SBA after registering with FEMA should complete the application to keep their recovery process moving. Filing the loan application does not obligate people to accept an SBA loan. However, failure to complete and submit the home disaster loan application may stop the FEMA grant process. Homeowners and renters who submit an SBA application and are declined a loan may be considered for certain other FEMA grants that do not have to be paid back and could include assistance for disaster-related car repairs, clothing, household items and other expenses.

Homeowners, renters or business owners who sustained storm-related damages have until Monday, June 30, to apply for a low-interest SBA disaster loan. June 30 is also the deadline to register with FEMA.

For more information, homeowners, renters and businesses may call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visit SBA.gov/Disaster. Survivors can complete disaster loan applications online at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA.

Survivors who have not yet registered with FEMA can do so online at DisasterAssistance.gov, with a mobile device at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362.) Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call TTY 800-462-7585.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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. 

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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