Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved his request for an administrative disaster declaration following Tropical Storm Chantal. This decision enables homeowners, renters, and business owners in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, Person, and Wake counties to apply for federal financial assistance through low-interest disaster loans.
“This declaration will help families and business owners across central North Carolina who are still reeling from the severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Chantal,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I want to thank the Small Business Administration for swiftly approving this request. North Carolinians are resilient and will get through this together.”
Eligible homeowners and renters may borrow up to $500,000 for repairs or reconstruction of their primary residence. Loans of up to $100,000 can cover expenses related to damaged or destroyed personal property such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Eligible businesses and nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace property including real estate, inventory, and equipment.
Applications for SBA disaster loans can be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov or other locally announced locations. For further assistance, contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at 1-800-659-2955. People who are deaf or hard of hearing or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Since July 5th, the State Emergency Response Team has been collaborating with local officials to provide information, resources, and support. On July 16th, Governor Stein declared a State of Emergency to facilitate state and federal recovery assistance efforts. North Carolina Emergency Management continues working with local officials on assessing the damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. The completed assessment analysis will determine eligibility for additional recovery resources in coordination with relevant federal partners.
Residents with remaining damage and debris cleanup needs can contact Crisis Cleanup at 910-218-1569 by August 1st. Crisis Cleanup connects residents with volunteers from local relief organizations that may assist with muck out operations, downed tree removal, and general debris removal.
