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Tag: Anna Maria Island hurricane relief

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.

One month and we’re still standing

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

It’s been a month since Milton disturbed our idyllic lifestyle. The hurricane came in as a strong Category 3 storm, fortunately weakening before making landfall due to an increasing wind shear as it turned northeast.

That’s not to say Milton didn’t do a lot of damage along Florida’s coastal communities, generating tornados but fortunately, no tidal surge. Anna Maria Island, which was still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s flooding, was at least spared another flood event, freeing island residents and businesses to continue the cleanup from Helene as well as tackling Milton’s damage.

There was legislation effective July 1 of this year to help keep condominiums safer from hurricanes in the form of grants to improve the stability of condominiums. Whether or not these grants can be applied for after a storm is unclear. The way I read it, the grants are for reinforcing condominium structures in the event of a storm. Nevertheless, as we all know, there will be other storms.

I mentioned this program briefly the week after the storm but here are some more details.

The My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program is an extension of the My Safe Florida Home program. This is designed to enhance the resilience of condominiums against hurricanes and reduce insurance costs.

The program provides licensed inspectors, grants and guidelines for hurricane mitigation projects funded by the state. The state would spend $2 for every $1 spent by eligible condominium associations for structural hurricane improvements. In addition, they will cover up to half the cost of roof-related projects and up to $1,500 per unit for doors and windows. There is a maximum grant of $175,000 available for each condo association.

To apply for a grant, an association must receive approval by a majority vote of the board of directors or a majority vote of the total voting interests of the association to participate in the pilot program. Also, the association will need a unanimous vote of all unit owners within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant. A unit owner cannot participate individually in the pilot program, and implementation of this pilot program is subject to annual legislative appropriations for grants for eligible condominium associations.

After approval, the mitigation inspection grants for eligible associations may be used for the following improvements:

• Opening protection including exterior doors, garage doors, windows and skylights;

• Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections;

• Improving the strength of roof-deck attachments; and

• Secondary water resistance for roof.

There is more information and additional details about this bill on the myfloridahouse.gov website under HB 1029. Condominium association board members and property managers should seek the advice of an attorney familiar with legislative bills to see if your association may qualify for a grant before making an application.

We’re all still getting over the post-traumatic stress disorder that many of us have from Helene and Milton, and some of us never will. Certainly, a month is too soon for a full recovery. At least the roadside debris is starting to disappear and beaches are reopening, giving us a sense of normalcy. All we can do is move forward, work towards making our properties more secure, and keep standing. This, too, shall pass.

Volunteer hurricane cleanup available

Volunteer help available for Island cleanup efforts

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Volunteers are needed to help with painting and cleanup on the Island following the recent back-to-back hurricanes, and from now until Nov. 3 residents may request needed volunteer help.

Sponsored by the nonprofit Coastal Guardians Alliance, the organization is dedicated to bringing together volunteers for beach and community cleanups, provide disaster relief after natural events, and engage local businesses in eco-friendly practices.

According to the Coastal Guardians Alliance Facebook page, “If you’ve been impacted by Hurricanes Helene/Milton and need assistance, Coastal Guardians Alliance is here to help. We will be matching available volunteers to those who request assistance. Our volunteers will be available from Oct. 19 to Nov. 3 to assist with tasks like interior and exterior cleaning, yard work, painting, and more!

To request help, simply scan the QR code or visit the link in our bio to sign up.

For any questions or concerns, send us a direct message or reach out to us at relief@thecoastalguardians.org.”

Recovering after Hurricane Helene

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

The days following a disaster are critical in storm recovery. It’s important that while you’re working to clean up that you also take advantage of community resources.

The Better Business Bureau recommends:

• Assess the damage – take pictures, contact your insurance company, document damage and don’t make any permanent repairs until you get approval from your insurance company;

• Clean and make temporary repairs – make minor repairs to help limit further damage, clean up standing water, remove debris and treat the property for mold. Wear protective clothing including close-toed shoes, gloves and masks while cleaning;

• Hire a contractor – once you get the go-ahead from your insurance company, hire a contractor to complete permanent repairs. Get references, do your research, look out for price gouging and make sure you read and understand everything you sign. Get written contract agreements, never pay in full in advance and contact your local building department to ensure the contractor is licensed in your area.

One major thing to look out for is “storm chasers,” people who take advantage of those suffering in the wake of a natural disaster. These people may pose as insurance claim adjusters, contractors or others offering unsolicited repairs or work for a price. Offers to purchase damaged homes should be viewed skeptically.

A great source of help for those recovering from a storm is the FEMA website. Visit www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene to see what emergency and financial assistance is available to you. Assistance can include vouchers for hotel and Airbnb rentals, emergency utility, clothing and housing assistance, food and other assistance. If you qualify for FEMA assistance, it’s important to apply quickly.

In Manatee County, you can also visit www.mymanatee.org/storm to register for local assistance.

Business owners can contact the Small Business Administration for loans and relief options at www.sba.gov.

Duncan leads community recovery efforts

Duncan leads community recovery efforts

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Featured, Real estate | Development.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – When Hurricane Helene swept past the Gulf coast, it brought several feet of storm surge that left large amounts of debris, standing water and piles of sand across the Island. A group of Anna Maria Island residents and business owners, led by Realtor Darcie Duncan, has joined forces to help locals affected by the storm.

The group, Anna Maria Island Hurricane Helene Relief, is a place for people to post photos and videos, notify neighbors of available help in the area and organize relief efforts. Started on Sept. 27, the group had more than 5,600 members in less than 48 hours, all sharing resources, updates, information and finding ways to help the community begin the long road to recovery.

Companies and city leaders are invited to post information for community members along with anyone who has photos, videos or supplies to share.

Duncan said she knew watching Helene come in that the Island community would need to mobilize quickly to begin recovery.

“It’s so overwhelming, the amount of help and support people have offered,” she said. As soon as the sun came up after the storm passed, Duncan said people were contacting her to find out how they could help and dropping off supplies by boat at her dock for Island residents.

The group also is organizing a supply drive to gather food, cleaning supplies, clothing, water, hygiene supplies and other necessary items.

The Center of Anna Maria Island is serving as a distribution point for all the supplies. The Manatee Community Foundation is a place for anyone who wants to donate financially to relief efforts. All funds collected will go directly to meet the needs of the Anna Maria Island community.

With power to The Center restored, staff has opened the doors to the community to allow people to come charge their phones or devices, take a break from the heat and access a working restroom. Duncan and The Center’s staff are working to get volunteer teams organized to help community members clean up their homes and businesses as well as distribute supplies.

Meals on Wheels of Manatee County is serving as a drop off location for the supplies coming out to the Island. Duncan said that with the exponential growth of the group and the large amount of resources being donated, it’s been necessary to divert the organization of supply drives and financial donations to larger organizations to make sure that supplies and funding get to where they’re needed the most in the Island community, such as Bradenton Beach, which is still inaccessible by vehicle.

Duncan said supplies are available at The Center for Island residents and business owners, from cleaning supplies to shovels and even hugs. Supplies that are still needed include underwear, clothing and socks. Join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1982057658882341