U.S. Small Business Administration formally grants disaster declaration, allowing citizens and businesses to apply for damage reimbursement
ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 10, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley announced today Maryland has received a Declaration of Disaster from the U.S. Small Business Administration as a result of the severe storms and tornado, which struck Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties on November 17, 2010.
At the request of the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management and Mayor Rawlings-Blake, Governor O’Malley submitted a request for a disaster declaration, which will provide low interest loans to homeowners, businesses and non-profit organizations for physical damages, or economic injury for disaster related losses related to this tornado but not covered by insurance.
“Key to recovering from any disaster is for people to get back on their feet as soon as possible,” said Governor O’Malley. “The emotional damage from any disaster is greatly enhanced when the financial damage is more than a family can bear. This process will expedite the rebuilding of the apartment complexes and assist local families and businesses during this difficult time in their lives.”
“This additional aid will help us to make certain that tornado victims in Northeast Baltimore can continue to get back to normal,” said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “We have to remember that these citizens have suffered great damage and loss just ahead of the holiday season.”
Beginning December 14, 2010, residents and businesses may seek assistance from the SBA Assistance Center. The Center will be located in the W.E.B DuBois High School, 2201 Pinewood Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21214. The hours of operation are Tuesday, December 14 through Monday, December 20 from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Individuals and businesses unable to visit the Center may obtain information on loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at http://www.sba.gov/. Completed applications should be returned to the Center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is February 7, 2011. The deadline to return economic injury applications is September 9, 2011.
On November 18, 2010, the National Weather Service conducted a survey of the area and confirmed an EF-1 tornado, which produces winds between 86-110 mph, touched down in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County. The communities of Dutch Village and Mt. Pleasant in Baltimore City suffered the most damage with 47 apartments and townhomes sustaining major damage. The residents of both communities were evacuated and have since been relocated to permanent housing.
Mayor Rawlings-Blake has also established the Northeast Baltimore Disaster Relief Fund, administered by Catholic Charities, to provide assistance to families affected by the tornado. Businesses and individuals interested in donating to the disaster relief fund can do so through Harbor Bank of Maryland: Northeast Baltimore Disaster Relief Fund c/o Harbor Bank of Maryland, Mall-04, 25 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-3702.
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