U.S. Small Business Administration loans are now being made available to people in Wood County who suffered damage from storms from April 17 – 30. The deadline to apply is this Friday.

Burl Kelton, public information officer with the SBA, encourages those affected to begin the application process. People applying should complete the FEMA application process first even if they are referred to the SBA. If they do not finish the process, they won’t be able to access assistance.

Assistance for businesses is not limited to solely property damage from the storms. Kelton noted that businesses who suffered economic impact due to things such as the closing of roads or employees being unable to go to work may also be eligible. Business loans can also included inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches, etc. are also eligible.

Wood County has been added to the list of counties eligible for assistance from FEMA due to the April storms, Wood County emergency management coordinator Tully Davidson said.

The Disaster Recovery Center site for FEMA assistance will be at the Wise Elementary Fine Arts Magnet school. The school is located at 10659 State Highway 64 East in Tyler and will open at noon. Kelton said the best way to begin is by calling the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955. For FEMA assistance the telephone number is 1-800-621-3362.

Residents can also register the following ways:

* Online at DisasterAssistance.gov

* By phone at 800-2621-3362 (FEMA). People who are deaf or hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

*Deadline to register is this Friday.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Property owners should register if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.