TALAHASSEE – Almost $794 million Low-interest loans have been issued to more than 11,000 people whose homes or businesses were damaged by Hurricane Ian, according to recently released data.
Federal officials predict that the amount of federal assistance in the form of loans will exceed $1 billion.
More than half of the funds approved under the Small Business Administrationwho oversees disaster lending, went to Lee Countyone of the hardest hit by the historic storm.
Individuals and companies of Lee has more than $412 million, or 52% of all SBA loan dollars. The second highest went to Charlotte ($109 million) followed by sarasota ($72 million), Volusia ($50 million) and Necklace ($45 million).
Only those with homes or businesses in the 26 counties designated as federal disaster areas are eligible for SBA low-interest loans. The loan money can be used by landlords, tenants and business owners for damages related to Ian.
More information about the SBA application process for disaster-related loans can be found at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.
Lee Countyabove all Fort Myers Beach and his other barrier islands, bore the brunt of Ian’s assault on florida littoral. The storm, a category 4 when it made landfall September 28 at 3:05 p.m. near Cayo Costa, carried 150 mph winds and a harrowing towering storm surge Fort Myers Beach downtown.
The massive storm hit the state with a crushing storm surge, erasing wind speeds and torrential rain, leaving a swath of devastation from the southwest coast across the I-4 corridor.
The hurricane, the fifth most powerful to ever hit the WEleft countless homes and businesses destroyed or submerged and nearly 2.7 million people without power.
In all, more than $2.35 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments has been provided to the state of Florida and households to help survivors jump-start their recovery from Hurricane Ian, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported Monday.
UNITED STATES TODAY Network-Florida Reporter Responsible for Government Accountability Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee, Florida. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @DouglasSoule
Sergio Bustos is the Business/Political Editor for florida Gannet/UNITED STATES Network TODAY. He is based at South Florida. E-mail: [email protected]
