Albany Area Storm Recovery Roundup

Faith-based recovery meeting scheduled

ALBANY — A tornado recovery meeting for faith-based organizations has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Friendship Baptist Church, 400 Pine Ave.

Organizers of the meeting say it has been set up to address long-term recovery from the January storms and tornadoes. Plans are to establish committees and subcommittees to address the long-term needs of those affected by the storms.

All faith-based leaders are welcome to attend and no RSVP is required, organizers say.

FEMA experts offering tips at Lowe’s

ALBANY — Georgians recovering from the January storms can get advice on rebuilding better and stronger from FEMA mitigation experts, who will be at Lowe’s in Albany, 1200 N. Westover Blvd., through Tuesday.

FEMA officials say these professionals will be available to answer questions and offer home rebuilding tips and proven methods to help prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

The consultants will be available at Lowe’s 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday.

Free reference booklets in English and Spanish with information on protecting the home from future damage will be available.

More tips about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

To learn more about Georgia’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4294 and fema.gov/disaster/4297.

SBA OKs more than $1 million in loans

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $1 million in low-interest disaster loans for businesses and residents in Georgia affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding on Jan. 2 and Jan. 21-22, officials with the organization say.

“Currently, 25 disaster loans have been approved in the amount of $1,106,200.00 for affected survivors,” Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta, said. “We are pleased to get these loans approved so residents in the disaster area can start to rebuild and resume their normal lives. I encourage anyone who has not submitted an SBA disaster loan application to do so before the deadline.”

SBA disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to cover uninsured losses from the disaster. Interest rates are as low as 3.125 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations, and 1.5 percent for homeowners and renters. Loan terms can be up to 30 years.

To be considered, applicants should register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at (800) 621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call (800) 621-3362.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or (800) 877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, or by sending an email to [email protected]. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications can be returned to a recovery center or mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 27. The deadline to return economic injury applications for the Jan. 2 disaster is Oct. 25. The deadline to return economic injury applications for the Jan. 21-22 disaster is Oct. 26.

Ten counties OK’d for public assistance

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal received notice Monday from the White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency that 10 more counties impacted by the severe weather on Jan. 21-22 have been approved for public assistance.

The 10 counties include Randolph, Appling, Berrien, Brantley, Bulloch, Echols, Lowndes, Tattnall, Upson and Ware.

“Georgia has received significant assistance from President Trump, FEMA, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, and our state and local partners,” Deal said. “I am thankful for the immediate attention we have received and for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved as we work together to rebuild and recuperate these local communities.”