Loans available for those impacted by recent flood

Lewis County residents impacted by the Jan. 5 flooding are eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans from a disaster declaration of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Disaster loans of 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.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations, and 1.938 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

A Disaster Loan Outreach Center is available in heavily-impacted Aberdeen to assist homeowners and businesses to complete their loan applications.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339. For more information about SBA's disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is March 30, 2015. The deadline to return economic injury applications is October 29, 2015.

Additional questions can be referred to Lewis County Emergency Management at (360) 740-1151.