Disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration is now available to residents and business owners in Eastern North Carolina who were affected by a tornado as Hurricane Isaias passed through the state in early August. The declaration authorizes low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses who suffered losses in Bertie County and the contiguous counties of Chowan, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, and Washington counties.
SBA Disaster Loans provide up to $200,000 to homeowners and up to $2 million to businesses to repair or replace damaged property. Loans up to $40,000 are available to eligible to homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged personal property.
Residents can apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ or via telephone at 202-803-3307 or 470-363-5936. A disaster recovery center will open at the Bertie County Council of Aging Building in Windsor. It will be open Monday, August 24 – Thursday September on weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. by appointment only by calling 252-794-6144.
According to a news release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office, damage assessments are ongoing in hard-hit Brunswick County, and decisions will be made soon about requesting state or federal disaster declarations for those communities.
