Eastern Kentucky flood survivors can still apply for FEMA, SBA aid under grace periods

Aaron Mudd

The deadline for flood survivors in Eastern Kentucky to apply for federal disaster relief has officially come and gone, but you can still submit a late application for a limited time.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration offer grace periods for late applications.

Here’s what to know if you’re applying late, including how long you have to apply, what you’ll need and why you should also consider applying with the SBA – even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for a low-interest loan.

FEMA is accepting late applications for 60 days

For relief from FEMA, registration officially closed Oct. 28, and that deadline was extended 30 days past its original date of Sept. 28. But even after the deadline, applicants can still apply for 60 days.

“After the end of the registration period, FEMA will accept late registrations for an additional 60 days,” the agency’s Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide states.

FEMA stipulates that after that 60-day grace period, the agency won’t accept applications unless they include a special letter. The letter should have details about why the applicant is applying late and have any “accompanying documentation, if applicable,” according to the agency’s policy guide.

FEMA’s disaster recovery centers remain open to the public in Eastern Kentucky, an agency bulletin dated Nov. 1 states.

These centers include:

  • Breathitt County: Breathitt County Library, 1024 College Ave., Jackson, KY 41339

  • Knott County: Knott County Sportsplex, 450 Kenny Champion Loop No. 8765, Leburn, KY 41831

  • Letcher County: Letcher County Recreation Center, 1505 Jenkins Road, Whitesburg, KY 41858

  • Perry County: Hazard Community and Technical College, 1 Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701

  • Pike County: Dorton Community Center, 112 Dorton Hill Road, Pikeville, KY 41501

You can also find a center near you at fema.gov/drc.

Kentucky flood victims who haven’t applied for FEMA assistance are running out of time

What about the U.S. Small Business Administration?

According to Tauheedah Mateen, a public affairs specialist and spokesperson for the SBA, applying with the agency can actually work in your favor when it comes to getting relief from FEMA.

This is because even if the SBA can’t help you, it will refer your case to FEMA to see if that agency can offer assistance, Mateen said. That puts your application up for review again under a fresh set of eyes.

Mateen encourages those affected by the flood disaster to apply “even if they do not think they need or want a loan.”

The SBA can assist “business owners of any size. They don’t have to be small,” Mateen added.

This includes not only large employers in a community, but nonprofits and private groups, too. Landlords and renters are also encouraged to apply.

Mateen said landlords can get up to $200,000 to replace their home, while renters can receive up to $40,000 for lost or damaged personal belongings.

The SBA can also offer low-interest loans, ranging from 1.8% to a little more than 3%.

Borrowers have 30 years to pay back those loans, and their first payment is not due until one year after taking out the loan. Borrowers are also assigned loan officers who can adjust the pay-back plans and answer questions or offer other assistance, Mateen said.

The SBA has its own grace period for Eastern Kentucky flood victims, though it’s approaching faster than FEMA’s. That grace period closes Nov. 12, but Mateen said the SBA will continue to accept applications afterward, provided they include a similar narrative explaining why the application is late.

You can apply for a SBA loan at sba.gov.

Are missing documents holding up your flood relief from FEMA? Try these alternatives

Do you have a question about recovery in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

Advertisement