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Tag: Anna Maria Island hurricane recovery

SBA loans offer recovery relief

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Featured.

HOLMES BEACH – A new financial option may be available to residents and business owners affected by recent hurricanes.

Anna Nunez appeared before commissioners on Dec. 17 to discuss the U.S. Small Business Administration loans that are available to assist disaster victims. She said the loans are open to businesses, property owners and renters for physical and economic injury loans.

Business physical damage loans are available for up to $2 million to help owners recover from physical and financial losses related to the hurricanes.

Home disaster loans for up to $500,000 are available to help cover damage to a primary resi dence damaged by the hurricanes. Up to $100,000 loans are available to homeowners and renters to cover hurricane-damaged personal items, including furniture, cars and clothing.

Economic injury disaster loans for up to $2 million are available to small businesses and nonprofits to help meet ordinary financial obligations, such as payroll, rent and utilities. These are also known as working capital loans and are designed to help keep small businesses and nonprofits in business while they weather the financial implications related to a disaster.

Nunez said that some of the benefits of SBA loans include a low fixed interest rate, no payments for up to 12 months, no interest for up to 12 months, repayment terms of up to 30 years and no need to wait for insurance to apply. There is no application fee.

Mitigation loans are also available to help people and businesses build back better to help mitigate the effects of future storms.

All information and applications can be found online at www.sba.gov/disaster or by calling 1-800-659-2955.

Nunez encouraged everyone who is eligible to apply. She said there is no obligation to accept a loan if offered and applicants have 60 days to accept the loan once offered.

The deadline to apply for physical damage loans due to Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton is Tuesday, Jan. 7.

The deadline to apply for economic injury disaster loans related to the hurricanes is Saturday, July 11.

When applying for an SBA loan, applicants may see a notice that approvals are on hold due to funding. Nunez said this should not deter anyone from applying for one of the loans and that loans are expected to be fully funded by Congress.

To apply for a loan, homeowners, renters and business owners need to provide email addresses and other contact information, a Social Security number, financial information including income and monthly expenses, a copy of the most recent federal income tax return and any insurance information, if available.

Sheetrock rocks

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

There are a lot of things about Hurricane Milton and its aftermath that are new to me and, unfortunately, so many people. I never thought much about sheetrock except what color to paint it, but I’ve learned in the last almost two weeks that it is the bloodline of a home.

If you were in Milton’s path, you were hit with hurricane-force winds in excess of 100 mph and driving rain. If a home or condo didn’t have secure window and door coverings, it was penetrated, with the rain being driven by the wind, decimating walls constructed with sheetrock.

I have unhappily learned when the sheetrock gets wet, you have to get it out of your home soon, before mold sets in. Forget about your brand-new high-end chef’s stove and the stressless chairs you have and get right to the sheetrock. If you ride around Anna Maria Island and coastal Manatee County, you will see piles and piles of discarded sheetrock, reminding you just how important this simple building material is.

Homeowners all over our region are filing insurance claims, putting furniture in storage and looking for temporary housing. This is something that no one alive has ever seen and coping with it is unimaginable. There are, however, some homeowners who may have an even worse problem.

I wrote part of this a few weeks ago, but now in retrospect, it needs to be said again. So, if you’ve already read this, thank you, and if this is your first time, I hope it helps.

Properties that cannot be restored could be facing condemnation. According to my research on FEMA’s website, FEMA does not have the legal authority to condemn or demolish houses or buildings. They can provide contractors to inspect disaster-related damage to homes and property, but they do not condemn property. Local jurisdictions have the legal authority to condemn your property, which is a complicated process. Check FEMA’s website on Condemning Property to get more detailed information.

In Florida, if your property is condemned and you have an outstanding mortgage, you will still need to repay your mortgage. If your property is condemned, you will likely receive a condemnation payment to help pay off the loan or you can work with your lender for a loan modification or forbearance. I can’t emphasize enough that if you find yourself in this horrible position, you need to consult an attorney. As I said, it’s a complicated procedure and legal assistance is essential.

My heart goes out to anyone whose home is totally gone and to those who are working harder than they have ever worked to restore their properties. We will come back from this and rebuild our paradise. Most of us have lost valuable and personal items that can’t be replaced. We may have also lost value in our homes, but I firmly believe that, too, will come back. The lure of the water keeps us all drawn to the coast.

The day I wrote this, I saw the first white pelican of the season; it lifted my heart knowing that eventually everyone and everything returns.

Residents urged to take precautions when returning to Island

Residents urged to take precautions when returning to Island

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As residents and business owners return to the Island, officials remind them to be mindful of inherent hazards following a flooding storm.

The Holmes Beach building official’s office issued the following warning: “When power is restored or if you still have power, please ensure that all breakers for any outlet, light fixture or appliance are turned off before turning on your main breaker. Especially for any outlet that is located below the highest water line in your property. This is for all interior and garage or external outlets. Likely, they all had water intrusion and will have salt inside, which can be a fire risk when power is restored. Once all breakers have been turned off and the main breaker is turned on, check each individual breaker as you turn them back on. If you see smoke or any signs of fire, immediately turn the breaker off and consult with a licensed electrician. Do not charge electric vehicles or golf carts in any outlets below the water line that have not been checked and tested.”

Several fires in Holmes Beach during the storm were reportedly caused by lithium ion batteries in golf carts.

Water infiltration into the high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle can lead to damage, heightening the risk of a battery fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The fires may erupt instantaneously or manifest days, weeks or even months after exposure to saltwater. Using or charging batteries exposed to floodwaters poses a serious risk of fire.

According to FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), most hurricane-related deaths occur during the post-impact period, with prominent causes of death and injury being electrocutions from downed power lines, chain-saw injuries and blunt trauma from falling trees.

Floodwaters may contain a variety of hazards that pose a health and safety risk, including sharp objects, sewage, bacteria, chemicals, diseased insects and animals, according to FEMA