The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced last Friday that the deadline to register for recovery assistance in the wake of the Bastrop County Wildfires has been extended to January 6, 2012. The application form takes about 30 minutes to complete. According to a press release issued by the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Committee, homeowners may qualify for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their fire-damaged homes under SBA. Renters and homeowners may also be eligible for up to $40,000 for replacement of personal property. Businesses of any size may be eligible for physical disaster loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, inventory, machinery or equipment, and other business assets. FEMA registrants that do not otherwise qwualify to receive an SBA loan may be eligible for assistance through other FEMA grant programs.
Wildfire survivors can download the loan application at the SBA website or fill out an application online.
Additional information about SBA loans is available through SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339. Advice is also available by email.
Texans can register online, via web-enabled phone, or by telephone via FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. 711-Relay or Video Relay Service users can call 1-800-621-3362. Assistants are available by phone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
