Homeowners and businesses still recovering from the August historic flooding have a local option to get assistance with their disaster loan applications and other paperwork.
A Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Recovery Center has been set up at the Monroe Police Station, located at 7 Fan Hill Road. The hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Homeowners and businesses don’t need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply for FEMA assistance. They can also go online to Disaster Assistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
State Rep. Tony Scott was among the elected officials to gather outside the Monroe Police Station on Tuesday afternoon. In addition to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and SBA, State Senator Kevin Kelly, Governor Ned Lamont, Congressman Jim Himes, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and representatives from the CT Departments of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and Economic and Business Development, and a Monroe small business owner were on hand for the announcement.
“Many people in our region have moved on from what happened, but for those who suffered damage to their homes, businesses or belongings, they are still facing a long road ahead,” said Scott. “We are here today for those who still need the help.”
Over 1,000 applications have been filed in Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield Counties. An SBA center is also open in Oxford and FEMA recovery centers will open Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Southbury Town Hall and Thursday, Oct. 3 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilton.
Almost $3 million in FEMA assistance has been dispensed to date. Nearly $4 million has been paid out by the state Department of Economic and Community Development through the Women’s Business Development Council, in a special grant program set up by the state in response to the storm.
“Businesses and residents that had property and casualty insurance found after this storm that their damage wasn’t covered,” said Scott. “We need to look into what the state can do to hold insurance companies accountable so that the burden isn’t on homeowners and businesses or the state and federal government for recovery.”
Impacted homeowners who file for Disaster Assistance must schedule a home inspection. The assistance limits are $42,500 for house repairs, $42,500 for rental assistance, and $42,000 for other needs. SBA Physical Assistance loans and Economic Disaster Assistance loans are also available for businesses.
