South Texas residents affected by the severe weather last month have a silver lining to look forward to. Governor Greg Abbott announced the approval of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) disaster declaration which is set to extend aid to several impacted counties. The declaration spans Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, and San Patricio, ensuring that residents and local enterprises will soon be able to access much-needed financial assistance. "With the approval of this disaster declaration, South Texans impacted by severe storms last month will have access to critical financial assistance they need to recover," Abbott stated in an announcement released by the Office of the Texas Governor.
The aid comes in the form of low-interest loans, which will be available to qualifying homeowners, renters, and business owners. These loans are designed to help rebuild and repair damages swiftly brought on by the storms and tornadoes. Furthermore, applicants looking to quickly begin their recovery process are encouraged to apply online for the SBA's Home Disaster Loans, Business Physical Disaster Loans, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program through the SBA website at sba.gov/disaster.
For those needing additional help with applications, the SBA will establish a Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Alice, TX, starting today. Located at 601 E. Main Street, the outreach center will function weekdays from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, offering support and information about the disaster loan programs. The customer service center can also be contacted for further aid at (800) 659-2955 or via email at [email protected].
According to the Office of the Texas Governor, these efforts are part of a larger initiative to provide comprehensive support for communities ravaged by recent weather calamities. This includes having requested a federal disaster declaration and pushing for joint preliminary damage assessments by local, state, and federal partners. Additionally, Abbott activated state emergency response resources ahead of severe weather threats to ensure swift and effective aid, showing his support for the people of South Texas as they work to recover. Completed loan applications can be mailed directly to the SBA's Processing and Disbursement Center at 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
