Deadline for flood survivors to apply for federal disaster assistance coming up in early January

The deadline is coming up for residents affected by South Carolina’s historic floods to apply for federal aid.

Flood survivors have until Jan. 4 to apply for help with the Federal Emergency Management Agency or complete a U.S. Small Business Administration loan application. The original deadline was set for Dec. 4, but state officials changed that to allow more time for those affected by the flood to get the aid they need.

Federal assistance comes in several forms depending on an individual or families’ needs and eligibility and may include money for temporary housing, rental assistance, emergency home repairs, personal property losses, medical, dental and funeral expenses, and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

Depending on certain criteria, an individual or family may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which partners with FEMA in assisting flood survivors.

The SBA has approved $116,898,300 in disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses for the state, said Adrianne Laneave, public affairs specialist.

She said many decline these loans without hearing all the information about how they may benefit from them, adding that it’s important for flood survivors to learn more about these loans and how they could be potentially helped by them.

Interest rates vary, but could be as low as 1.875 percent for home loans and loan terms could be a maximum of 30 years for some.

Flood survivors living in 24 counties in South Carolina are designated for FEMA’s individuals and households assistance program, including Horry, Georgetown, Marion, Florence and Williamsburg.

Individuals can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Horry County Disaster Recovery Centers have closed, but a center at 2030 W. Church St. in Georgetown remains open.

For more information on finding the closest Disaster Recovery Center, visit asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Deadline for flood survivors to apply for federal disaster assistance coming up in early January."