WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 SBA-NY-Service-Center
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Small Business
Administration Deputy Administrator Jovita Carranza today visited the SBA
Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center in Buffalo, N.Y. and pledged the
agency's total support to the center's operations as it prepares to handle
thousands of calls in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. In the aftermath of that
storm, 34 New Orleans parishes have been declared disaster areas.
Deputy Carranza toured the facility, reviewed workforce operations and
discussed training programs with center managers in preparation for the
potential increased disaster activity posed by tropical storms Hanna, Ike and
Josephine brewing in the Atlantic. She also met with the staff and encouraged
them to keep up the outstanding work they do in helping homeowners, renters
and businesses recover in the aftermath of a disaster.
In the days following Hurricane Gustav's landfall, call activity has
increased to upwards of 1,000 calls per day.
"When disaster strikes, it is important that disaster survivors know their
calls for assistance will be handled immediately and effectively; that's the
role of the Customer Service Center and I applaud its dedicated staff for the
outstanding work they do," said Deputy Carranza. "SBA is the lead agency when
it comes to long-term disaster recovery, and the Buffalo Customer Service
Center is our frontline. Disaster survivors deserve and receive top-notch
service; the Customer Service Center delivers that and makes us proud."
The Buffalo Disaster Customer Service Center is at the frontline of SBA's
disaster recovery operations. After a Presidential disaster declaration is
made, the center handles telephone registration referrals from FEMA and
provides customer support via telephone and e-mail to disaster survivors as
they begin the disaster loan application process. At the height of the
Hurricane Katrina response in 2005, the Customer Service Center responded to
over 10,000 calls per day. As a result of the recent hiring and systems
upgrades, the center now has the capacity to handle 20,000 phone calls per
day.
The SBA makes low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and non-farm
businesses of all sizes. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or
replace damaged real estate. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000
to cover losses to personal property.
Recent changes to SBA's disaster loan program include an increase in the
loan limits for business disaster loans. Businesses of all sizes and private
non-profit organizations of all sizes may now borrow up to $2 million for
property losses not fully covered by insurance. Small businesses and private
non-profit organizations of all sizes may apply for a working capital loan up
to $2 million to alleviate economic injury caused by the disaster.The
business disaster loans for physical damage and economic injury combined have
a $2 million limit.
In addition, disaster survivors may now apply for disaster loans from
SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Interest rates are as low as 2.874 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 upon each applicant's financial condition.
For more information about the disaster loan application process, call
SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the
hearing impaired), or e-mail the center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
To learn more about the SBA's disaster assistance program, visit the Web
site at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration
