For disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), individuals can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app or call (800) 621-3361.  Applicants will receive a unique number once registration is complete.  This registration number needs to be saved.

 

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program available through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides 90- or 180-day, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during Hurricane Irma.

 

The loans were just increased from $25,000 to $50,000, and businesses must apply by Oct. 31. Up to $10 million has been allocated.

 

The short-term loans help bridge the gap between the time damage was incurred and when a business obtains other financial resources, including insurance claim payments or longer-term Small Business Administration loans. Small business owners with two to 100 employees are eligible for bridge loans if they were established before Sept. 4 and can prove economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Irma.

 

If a business can’t repay a bridge loan within 180 days, it can obtain an SBA loan, up to $2 million. The SBA offers low-interest, long-term disaster loans for physical damage and working capital. Businesses must apply by Nov. 9 for physical property damage and June 11, 2018, for economic injury applications.

 

Applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov or apply online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; for questions, contact disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. For more information, go to www.floridadisasterloan.org.  The SBDC Regional Director is Lois Knox, who can be reached at (239) 745-3705 or lknox@fgcu.edu.

 

If your home was damaged by the hurricane, there may be mortgage assistance available.  Please contact your mortgage company to learn about mortgage relief options.  Each lender is different.  For more information, go to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.