Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration is encouraging people who sustained home, business or property damage from Tropical Storm Debby in Lycoming, Potter, Tioga and Union counties to apply immediately for financial aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance (FEMA IA) program or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
“Individual Assistance brings a variety of financial aid options for people who lost property or possessions in the devastating flooding caused by Debby last month,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield. “No matter how big or small the damage, I advise everyone to reach out to FEMA to see what help might be available to them.”
FEMA IA can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Individuals and businesses that sustained losses in Lycoming, Potter, Tioga and Union counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
The deadline to apply for assistance under FEMA IA is Nov. 12, 2024.
The FEMA IA program also automatically makes low-interest Physical and Economic Injury Disaster loans from the SBA available to renters, homeowners and businesses in those four counties.
Businesses and eligible nonprofits in the adjacent counties of Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, McKean, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Sullivan may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans through SBA.
Individuals in Lycoming, Potter, Tioga and Union counties are encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA IA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA-specific disaster assistance.
Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
The deadline to apply for SBA Physical Disaster loans is Nov. 12, 2024. The deadline to apply for SBA Economic Injury loans is June 11, 2025.