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After heavy rains in June washed away many roads and damaged several hundred homes in Houghton County, many were left with unanswered questions about recovery.
Although FEMA has agreed to provide public assistance to repair roadways and infrastructure, the agency made the announcement earlier this summer that it would not be providing assistance for individuals, meaning that those who suffered property damage caused by the downpour would be paying out of pocket for their own repairs.
In the weeks that followed, the state filed appeals with the agency and asked the President to step in and reverse the decision, but FEMA contests that property damage does not meet its requirements, so Governor Snyder has turned to the Small Business Administration for assistance.
“The Federal government wants you to know the SBA- Small Business Administration is out here to help those who suffered from the flooding. We’re here to help homeowners and renters, businesses and non profits of all kinds with very low interest loans to rebuild and get back to where they were before the disaster,” said U.S. SBA Public Affairs Specialist Karen Knapik.
Representatives from the SBA will be located on top of the Quincy hill for a few more days, helping folks through the application process. Those eligible include businesses, homeowners, renters and non profits in the counties of Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw, Iron, and Ontonagon.
Knapik said, “While these folks are here, it makes the application process much easier, expedites it, and it’s just nice to have someone do it in a conversational way to help you apply that way.”
The center will be open on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. “Renters can get up to $40,000, homeowners up to $200,000, and businesses up to $2 million as well as non profits,” said Knapik.
Those who are unable to come in to apply in person, are still able to apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ or by telephone at 1-800-659-2955 by November 6th of this year.
Knapik said, “People need to recover at a time like this and we want you to come and see what we can do for you.”
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