Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
As the community continues to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, several organizations are offering additional assistance to those in need.
SBA offers disaster loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the availability of disaster loans for individuals and businesses in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm, which struck Florida on Thursday, Sept. 26, caused significant damage in several counties. On Sunday, Sept. 29, President Joe Biden signed a Major Disaster Declaration, opening the door for residents and business owners in affected areas to apply for financial assistance through the SBA's disaster loan programs.
Eligible counties for physical damage and economic injury loans include Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor and Wakulla. Neighboring counties, such as Alachua, Collier and Suwannee, are eligible for economic injury loans only. Additionally, three Georgia counties—Brooks, Lowndes and Thomas—are also eligible for economic injury loans. The SBA is offering several types of disaster loans. Business Physical Disaster Loans provide funding to repair or replace damaged business property, while Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) assist small businesses and non-profits in meeting financial obligations they are unable to meet due to the disaster. Homeowners and renters may also apply for Home Disaster Loans to repair or replace their damaged properties.
The loan amounts can reach up to $2 million for businesses and up to $500,000 for homeowners, with interest rates varying based on credit availability. Rates for homeowners without credit elsewhere are as low as 2.813 percent, while business loans for those without credit elsewhere are available at 4 percent. Non-profit organizations can apply for loans at an interest rate of 3.250 percent.
Applications for physical damage loans must be submitted by Nov. 27. The deadline for economic injury loans is June 30, 2025. Applicants can submit their loan applications online via the SBA's MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov.
For more information, individuals and businesses can contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Those with speech or hearing disabilities can access services by dialing 7-1-1.
FEMA offers disaster assistance to homeowners and renters
Homeowners and renters in the 17 Florida counties named in the Major Disaster Declaration who suffered uninsured damage or losses due to Hurricane Helene may be eligible for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The assistance aims to help with urgent needs such as temporary lodging, home repair costs, personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses.
Residents in the affected counties are encouraged to apply for assistance. FEMA’s support includes flexible funding directly to survivors and a simplified application process that expands eligibility, making it easier for Floridians to access aid.
Those who applied for assistance after Hurricane Debby and experienced further damage from Hurricane Helene must submit a separate application for Helene, noting the most recent damage. Applications can be submitted online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA mobile app, or by calling the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362. Assistance is available in multiple languages, and relay services such as Video Relay Service (VRS) and captioned telephone services can be used.
When applying for FEMA assistance, applicants should be ready with the following:
• A current phone number for contact.
• The address of their residence at the time of
the disaster and their current address.
• Social Security number.
• A general list of damages and losses.
• Banking information for direct deposit.
• Insurance policy details, if applicable.
Applicants are advised to file claims with their insurance providers as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits that are covered by insurance, but federal assistance may be available for costs not covered by existing policies.
For up-to-date information on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, visit FEMA’s official website at fema.gov/disaster/4828.
Additional services available for Hurricane Helene relief
Veterans in need of housing or utility assistance may be able to receive help from MISSION UNITED through the United Way of Suwannee Valley. Individuals located in Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee Counties who are not eligible for Veterans Affairs or Supportive Services for Veteran Families benefits are urged to call (386) 752-5604 for application assistance.
Current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who lost food due to Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply for food replacement. Applicants must: currently be SNAP recipients and complete the application by Sunday, Oct. 6. Furthermore, households are required to provide verification of having a power outage of four or more hours to their MYACCESS Account, except for households in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Wakulla Counties. For more information or to fill out the form, visit myflfamilies.com/helene.
Florida Baptist Disaster Relief is available to provide aid for anyone in the community. Individuals seeking help can call (904) 253-0502, text "Helene" to 27123, or email fldrresponse@gmail.com for assistance.
Farm Bureau adjusters from multiple states are working to handle insurance claims related to Hurricane Helene. Residents are encouraged to contact the claims report hotline at (866) 275-7322 if an adjuster has not yet contacted them. Policyholders are reminded to take photos of any emergency repairs made to prevent further damage and keep all receipts.
For those in need of help with debris removal, the Crisis Cleanup Hotline is available at (844) 965- 1386. Volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups, and faith-based organizations may assist with mucking out, tree removal, tarps and debris cleanup. All services are free, but availability is not guaranteed due to the high demand. This hotline will remain open until Friday, Oct. 11.
For those with livestock or animals in critical need of care, emergency assistance is available. Fill out the form available at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and email it to DAIOPSAssessment@FDACS.gov or call (863) 993- 5460 during business hours. For after-hours assistance, call (386) 397-2732. For other state-related emergency needs, the Division of Emergency Management can be reached at 1 (800) 342-3557.
Lafayette County residents experiencing debris blocking access to or from their residences can report the issue by calling Lafayette County Sheriff's Office Dispatch at (386) 294-1301.
Additionally, Lafayette County residents are encouraged to report property or home damage from Hurricane Helene via the Crisis Track website. Photos and descriptions of the damage can be submitted at Crisis Track - Lafayette County. This information will help the county assess the impact of the storm and make informed decisions about potential assistance. It is important to note that this form is not an application for assistance. Additionally, homeowners can determine if their property is in a FEMA flood zone by visiting the FEMA website and entering their address.