Disaster applicants who have received a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application should take the time to fill it out – even if they don’t want a loan.

Failure to fill out the SBA disaster loan application can put those impacted by the severe storms and tornadoes at risk of stopping the disaster assistance process in its tracks.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), when an applicant is referred to the SBA, a loan application has to be completed before some types of federal aid options can be considered.

Filling out an SBA application does not guarantee that an applicant will be approved for a loan, nor does it mean they must accept a loan if they are approved. However, if a home loan application is declined, their case will be referred back to FEMA’s grant programs.

FEMA disaster assistance covers only basic needs and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss. If you have insurance, the disaster assistance may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy.

In Fulton County, an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC), also serving DeKalb County675 Ponce de Leon Avenue N.E. (fifth floor) in Atlanta. residents, is located at City Hall East, Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice.

In Polk County, a DLOC serving residents of Bartow, Floyd and Polk counties is at the Polk County Emergency Management Office, 55 Cline Ingram Jackson Road, Cedartown. Operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Friday, April 18, close of business.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.  Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for small businesses to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. Interest rates are as low as 2.75 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based upon each applicant’s financial condition.

Anyone unable to visit the center, who has registered with FEMA, can obtain an application by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT.  Business loan applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX, 76155.

Anyone from Bartow, Burke, DeKalb, Floyd, Fulton, Jefferson and Polk counties who was impacted by the severe storms and tornadoes March 14-16, and has not yet registered for assistance, should call FEMA’s toll-free registration number at (800) 621-3362 (FEMA). Or, for the hearing- and speech-impaired, call TTY (800) 462-7585 and apply. Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice. Application for disaster assistance can also be made by registering online at www.fema.gov. The deadline to register for FEMA Disaster Assistance is May 19.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal Rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 800-323-8603.

SBA’s disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for non-farm, private sector disaster losses. Disaster loans from SBA help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations fund repair and replacement of disaster damaged real and personal property.  These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 or online at www.sba.gov.

For more information on Georgia’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.gema.ga.gov or www.ready.ga.gov/ or www.georgia911.org or www.afcema.com