May 3, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 3 min read

Karen mansfield/Observer-Reporter

A house in Chartiers Township was inundated with water after torrential rains caused Chartiers Creek to flood its banks.

Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter

A state police trooper drives past a road closed sign on Kirby Road near Garards Fort after Whiteley Creek’s high water had receded, allowing for vehicles to pass through the area following flooding.

Residents and businesses impacted by the April flooding that devastated parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania can apply for funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Loan program.

“The flooding in Southwestern Pennsylvania has been devastating, and I remain committed to helping Pennsylvanians recover and rebuild stronger than before,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “That’s why we worked with the federal government to open up access to these low-interest loans as a tool to ensure homeowners and business owners have the support they need and can recoup unforeseen losses.”

The SBA’s Disaster Loan program provides low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, private nonprofits, and businesses located in disaster-declared counties who sustained damages from flooding.

The SBA can provide up to $500,000 for homeowners to replace or repair their primary residences and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property.

Businesses and most private nonprofits may apply for up to $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.

Also, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared disaster area that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

The SBA offers long-term repayment options to keep payments affordable, with terms up to a maximum of 30 years. Based on each borrower’s ability to pay it back, terms for the loans are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Among the communities hard-hit was Marianna Borough, which was one of at least six municipalities that declared a state of emergency.

The borough experienced a series of mudslides on state Route 2020, and several homes were damaged, including a double-wide trailer that was split in two, said Jeremy Berardinelli, Marianna Borough Council president.

“We made her aware of (the disaster loan program) and we’re hoping that that helps (the owner) out,” said Berardinelli, noting the family is temporarily staying with relatives while they figure out what to do. “We’re also hoping for funding from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Also impacted was Houston Borough, where more than two dozen homes and businesses sustained significant flooding. The Houston Borough building also sustained damage.

The disaster declaration can be viewed at https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=PA-20003/.

Applicants can get information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov and referencing Pennsylvania Disaster Number PA-20003.

Alternatively, applications can be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster/.

The SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Allegheny County beginning at noon Friday in the South Fayette Township Municipal Building, 100 Township Drive, Bridgeville, to provide in-person assistance for those who want to apply. Visiting the DLOC is not required to obtain assistance.

Alternatively, applications can be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster/.