Governor Rendell Requests Disaster Assistance for Columbia County Fire Victims

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare Columbia County a disaster area after an Oct. 25 fire in Bloomsburg that destroyed four buildings and affected at least 30 residents and six businesses.

"This devastating fire has left dozens of people with few or no possessions and I am very sorry for all their losses," Governor Rendell said. "Our first responders and emergency officials responded quickly and saved lives and other properties, and the financial assistance that I'm requesting would help victims replace what they have lost."

SBA officials, along with local and state officials, conducted a damage assessment earlier this week. The Governor used the results of this assessment to request assistance from the SBA to make low-interest, long-term loans available to qualifying individuals, homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations that were impacted by the disaster.

According to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Robert P. French, the damage in Bloomsburg exceeds SBA criteria of at least 25 homes and/or businesses with uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of their estimated fair market value. Initial damage assessments to the community indicate that most of the victims do not have private insurance coverage on their homes or property.

If the disaster declaration is granted, the SBA would provide low-interest loans of up to $200,000 to eligible homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. SBA regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Interest rates are as low as 2.437 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial qualifications.

More information on disaster assistance in Pennsylvania is available at www.pema.state.pa.us by clicking on "Disaster Assistance" in the left-hand column.

Media contacts:
Maria A. Finn, PEMA; 717-651-2009
Michael Smith, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: The text of Governor Rendell's letter to the SBA follows:

Nov. 3, 2009

Mr. Frank Skaggs, Director
Office of Disaster Assistance
Field Operations Center East
U.S. Small Business Administration
101 Marietta Street NW - Suite 700
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2725

Dear Mr. Skaggs:

On October 25, 2009, individual homes and businesses in the Town of Bloomsburg in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, suffered significant damage when a fire destroyed four buildings affecting at least 30 residents and six businesses. Based on the results of a joint Commonwealth and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) damage survey, damages in the Town of Bloomsburg exceed the SBA criteria of at least 25 homes and/or businesses with uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of their estimated fair market value.

Based on this information, I request that Columbia County be declared a disaster area by the SBA so that low interest loans may be made available to the affected property owners and residents.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will not ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for this event. Should you need additional information, please contact Ms. Colleen Probst, Individual Assistance Officer, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) at 717-651-2163 or via email at coprobst@state.pa.us.

Sincerely,

Edward G. Rendell, Governor