As the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) works to help get California communities back on the road to recovery from the February and March storms, it’s important that business owners know what to expect after they register for federal assistance.
Business owners that were impacted in San Luis Obispo, Butte, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties can register for federal assistance to help them repair or replace damaged property that was destroyed by the February and March storms.
Through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to help cover disaster-caused damage or mitigation to help prevent future storm damage.
HOW TO REGISTER
- Online at Disasterassistance.gov
- Calling 800-621-3362
- By using the FEMA App on your smart phone:
- Apple Devices
- Android/ Google Devices
- In person at a Disaster Recovery Center
- If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service
*The deadline to apply is extended to SEPTEMBER 1, 2023
AFTER REGISTRATION
Business owners can expect to receive a phone call from FEMA within 10 business days to advise them of ways to apply for possible SBA loans. Once you are referred to the SBA, you must then complete an SBA disaster loan application on the SBA website. Business owners are not obligated to accept a loan, if approved.
IF SBA DOES NOT APPROVE A LOAN
If the SBA does not offer a loan to business owners or only offers a partial loan, then the SBA will notify FEMA. FEMA can then review the application to see if the business owner may qualify for additional disaster assistance, such as Personal Property Assistance, Transportation Assistance and/or Group Flood Insurance Policy (GFIP).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Since the FEMA Individuals and Households Program does not provide grant assistance to businesses or for rental properties that are not occupied by the owner as a primary residence, FEMA applications of this type are automatically referred to the SBA for disaster loan consideration.
For questions about the SBA disaster loan program, please call 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339). Information is also available at www.SBA.gov/disaster or by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Survivors who have questions for FEMA or need information can always visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
What Individuals Can Expect After Registering for Federal Assistance