S.C. Survivors Have One Week Left to Register for Disaster Assistance and Low-Interest Loans with more than $62 Million in Assistance Already Approved

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Hurricane Florence survivors in South Carolina have one more week to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for losses caused by Hurricane Florence.

More than $62 million in combined federal assistance from FEMA and the SBA already have been approved for Florence survivors with uninsured or underinsured losses in South Carolina. FEMA has funded more than $21 million in disaster assistance, including awards for home repairs, temporary housing and other needs. So far, the SBA has approved more than $41 million in low-interest loans to businesses and residents.

In addition to federal assistance, Florence survivors in the state have already received more than $66 million in payments from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

There is still time to get assistance. The application deadline for both FEMA and the SBA is Dec. 5, 2018.

How to apply with FEMA: homeowners, renters and business owners in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Marlboro counties may apply for disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured disaster-caused damage and losses. Applicants can apply for disaster assistance, get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process and check the status of their claims by going online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

How to apply with SBA. Individuals who have applied for federal assistance and were referred to SBA, should complete and submit the SBA loan application. Next to insurance, SBA low-interest disaster loans are the primary source of funding for real estate repairs and replacing contents destroyed as a result of Hurricane Florence. Survivors who were referred to SBA could be leaving money on the table if they don’t apply. More information is available by calling (800) 659-2955 or visiting SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster-assistance. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Those who have registered for disaster assistance with FEMA, need to stay in touch and update FEMA about address or phone number changes. Missing or erroneous information can result in delays in getting home inspections or receiving assistance.

For more information on Hurricane Florence and South Carolina recovery, visit the S.C. Emergency Management Division website at scemd.org, on social media (@SCEMD on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram), or FEMA’s Hurricane Florence disaster webpage at www.fema.gov/disaster/4394, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA, and the FEMA Region 4 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion4.