$6-Million Disaster Assistance Total Close
Release Date: October 15, 1999
Release Number: 1299-30
» More Information on South Carolina Hurricane Floyd
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Since the Presidential disaster declaration 9,576 disaster survivors in 11 declared counties have applied for assistance, and a total of $ 5,936,325 has been approved for disaster grants and low-interest loans.
Disaster housing assistance grants, totaling more than $3 million for some 2,800 applicants, covers temporary rental assistance or emergency home repair that makes the dwelling safe and habitable. A total of $ 485,099 also has been approved for 274 people who will receive Individual and Family Grant (IFG) funds for serious, unmet needs that are not covered by other programs
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $ 2,414,900 in low-interest disaster loans for 86 homeowners, who received $ 2,152,000, and 14 businesses that received $ 262,900. Out of 4,013 loan applications issued, SBA officials have had only 570 applications returned. These loan officials urge people who received application packets when they applied for assistance to get those completed documents back to the SBA as soon as possible.
If the loan application is not completed and returned, it may affect other forms of disaster assistance. The deadline to call and apply for disaster assistance is Friday, November 19.
The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term disaster recovery for owners of private property, including homeowners, renters, landlords, non-farm businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. These low-interest loans cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid.
A county-by-county breakdown of applications and only disaster housing dollars approved:
| County Apps. | Apps. | Approved | Approved $$ |
| Berkeley | 663 | 141 | $96, 027 |
| Charleston | 2,253 | 561 | $ 526,794 |
| Colleton | 140 | 41 | $ 53,319 |
| Dillon | 63 | 2 | $ 2,092 |
| Dorchester | 123 | 4 | $ 3,335 |
| Florence | 68 | 14 | $ 7,486 |
| Georgetown | 1,489 | 431 | $ 385,954 |
| Horry | 3,870 | 1,269 | $ 1,658,113 |
| Marion | 116 | 12 | $ 12,173 |
| Orangeburg | 123 | 16 | $ 11,725 |
| Williamsburg | 668 | 200 | $ 279,308 |
| Total | 9,576 | 2,646 | $ 3,036,326 |
Register for Assistance by Telephone
Residents and business owners in the declared counties who sustained storm or flood-related damage or loss between September 14 and 30 must begin the disaster application process by calling toll-free 1 800-462-9029 or 1 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. Phone lines are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.
Disaster survivors who have completed this application process can have their specific recovery questions answered by visiting the federal and state Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Conway and the SBA "workshop" at Myrtle Beach. There are three-day DRCs at the Orangeburg Area Development Center and the Fire Department in Lake City, open Oct. 14 through Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Creating a Family Disaster Plan
Disasters are never pleasant, but family preparation makes these events safer and the recovery easier. Make your property flood resistant by moving electrical units and appliances out of harm's way, landscape defensively, or even elevate your home. Be sure you have the right insurance, flood damages are generally not covered under a homeowner policy. Know the local warning system and evacuation route. Create an emergency kit and a handy container of important papers and photographs. Decide how family members will contact each other if they are separated. Keep your gas tank full and your vehicle in reliable running order.
Project Impact Promotes Disaster Resistant Communities
To be better protected the next time disaster strikes, several South Carolina communities have joined the nationwide initiative, Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities. Started in 1997 by FEMA Director James Lee Witt, Project Impact's goal is to remove people from harm's way and support the development of disaster-resistant communities. The city of Florence joined the initiative in 1998, and the cities of Charleston and Mount Pleasant of Charleston County followed. Florence invested in a $125 million capital improvement program to alleviate flooding from storm water runoff. Nearly 200 disaster prevention projects are ongoing under the Charleston Area Project Impact initiative. More than 120 communities and 1,000 business partners throughout the country are participating in this effort.
FEMA Helpline Facilitates Application Updates
People living in declared counties who have applied for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free number can access or augment their application with another toll-free call. Registered applicants who want to modify their application or who want to learn the status of their application can call FEMA's toll-free Helpline at 1 800-525-0321 or TTY 1-800-660-8005 for the speech and hearing impaired. The Helpline numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. There have been more than 10,200 Helpline calls from South Carolina disaster survivors following Hurricane Floyd.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Dec-2003 14:57:20