***0 Disaster News***![](media/image1.png){width="1.5847222222222221in"
height="0.7277777777777777in"}

***Loans for Homeowners, Renters and Businesses of all Sizes***

SBA Disaster Assistance -- Field Operations Center- East - One Baltimore
Place, Suite 300 - Atlanta, GA 30308

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**Release Date:** February 23, 2007 **Contact:** Michael Lampton

**Release Number:** 07-251, FL 10797/10798 **Phone:** 404-347-3771

**SBA APPROVES MORE THAN \$10 MILLION IN DISASTER LOANS**

**FOR STORM SURVIVORS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA**

**ORLANDO, Fla. --** More than \$10 million in U. S. Small Business
Administration Disaster Assistance Loans has been approved for over 120
residents and business owners in Florida who survived the severe storms
and tornadoes that occurred February 1-2, 2007.

According to Frank Skaggs, Director of Field Operations Center East,
"Currently, 127 home and business disaster loans have been approved in
the amount of \$10,938,600 for survivors."

"We are pleased to be able to get these loans approved so the residents
of Florida can start rebuilding and begin resuming their normal lives,"
said Frank Skaggs. "SBA is the primary source of long-term recovery
assistance for restoring and rebuilding homes, personal property,
non-farm businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations
that sustained losses."

Anyone with disaster related damages should register first with FEMA by
calling 1-800-621-FEMA, then complete and return the SBA loan
application. "SBA is here to help you with your recovery efforts. I
encourage anyone who has not completed their disaster loan application
to do so and meet with one of the Customer Service Representatives at
the Recovery Centers for assistance," Skaggs added.

**[FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Centers]{.underline}** (DRCs)

**Open: Monday - Saturday**

**Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM**

**[LAKE COUNTY]{.underline}**

Lady Lake American Legion Hall **[(Mobile Unit)]{.underline}**

31039 Lake Mack Road **3**8521 Lakeview Drive

Deland, FL 32720 Lady Lake, FL 32159

**[SUMPTER COUNTY / LAKE COUNTY]{.underline}**

Laurel Manor Recreation Center

1985 Laurel Manor Drive

Lady Lake, FL 32162

**[VOLUSIA COUNTY]{.underline}**

Victoria Square

1706 South Woodland Blvd

Deland, FL 32720

Atlantic Coast Baptist Church Wal-Mart Supercenter Parking Lot (Mobile)

1212 Conrad Road 1669 N. Woodland Blvd.

New Smyrna, FL 32169 Deland, FL 32720

**Closes: Saturday, Feb. 24 at the close of business Closes: Saturday,
Feb. 24 at the close of business**

**-more-**

**Page 2**

**SBA APPROVALS MORE THAN \$10 MILLION IN DISASTER LOANS**

**FOR STORM SURVIVORS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA**

Disaster loans up to \$200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or
replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are
eligible up to \$40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed
personal property. Businesses of any size and private non-profit
organizations may borrow up to \$1.5 million to repair or replace
damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory,
and other business assets.

The interest rates can be as low as 2.875 percent for homeowners and
renters and 4 percent for businesses. Loan terms can be up to 30 years.
Actual loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA, and are based on each
applicant's financial condition. The deadline to apply for physical
damage loans is April 4, 2007**.** The deadline for economic injury
applications is November 5, 2007.

SBA also offers mitigation funds to disaster survivors that have
approved physical loans. SBA mitigation funds are designed to help
borrowers fund protective measures to prevent damages of the same kind
from recurring in the future. To help fund these protective measures,
borrowers may request an additional 20 percent of their approved loan
amount.

Additionally, disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for a
settlement before applying to SBA. If a survivor does not know how much
of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA will
consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits,
provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or
repay their SBA loan.

Those unable to visit one of the Centers and who have registered with
FEMA may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service
Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired)
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. EST. Business loan
applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at
[www.sba.gov/services/disaster](http://www.sba.gov/disaster)[assistance.]{.underline}
Completed applications should be returned to the Centers or mailed to:
U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center,
14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is **April 4, 2007.**
The deadline for economic injury applications is **November 5, 2007**.

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*For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our
website at
[www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance](http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance)*