Low-Interest Loans Available to Impacted Individuals
Governor Jan Brewer announced that President Obama approved her Major Disaster Declaration request for federal assistance for La Paz and Maricopa counties following the severe flooding of September 8, 2014.
Federal aid will take the specific form of the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Under the Public Assistance Program, the federal government will reimburse 75 percent of eligible costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the permanent restoration of public infrastructure.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program makes grants available statewide for projects designed to reduce or eliminate the impact of future emergencies. A Preliminary Damage Assessment of flood impacts to public infrastructure in La Paz and Maricopa counties evaluated the cost of eligible Public Assistance Program damages at $18,026, 090.
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) will administer both grant programs. Neither program can be used to pay for home repairs or personal property loss.
In early October, the U.S. Small Business Administration declared an emergency in Maricopa County, which makes low-interest federal loans available to residents and business owners in Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma counties.
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, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For loan information and application forms, the public can call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit www.sba.gov/disaster. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is December 1, 2014. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 2, 2015.
Governor Brewer has designated ADEM Director Wendy Smith-Reeve as the State Coordinating Office for this event. Ms. Smith-Reeve will work directly with the Federal Coordinating Officer to ensure the programs are administered in accordance with federal and state guideline