FEMA AND SBA UPDATES –

PERSONAL AND BUSINESS CLAIMS ADVISORIES

We have gathered the following information on processing damage from water, wind, and business interruption through FEMA for your business and employees as well as SBA loans for business recovery.

We hope that your businesses and personal lives are coming back together and that this information along with the previous After Irma Tips are useful during this recovery period.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program Enhances the Flood Claims process and Extends Grace Period for Policy Renewals

• Provides advance payments on flood claims, even before visits by an adjuster
  Increases the advance payment allowable for policyholders who provide photographs or video depicting flood damage and expenses or a contractor’s itemized estimate
  Waives use of the initial Proof of Loss Form
• Extends the grace period for payment of NFIP flood insurance policy renewal premiums to 120 days

Operation Blue Roof Program Available in Some Florida Counties

• Provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made
• Available at no cost to eligible primary homeowners in Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota
  

Hurricane Debris Pick-up a Priority for Florida Recovery

• Residents are allowed to move debris from their private property to public rights-of-way for pick up and removal by local governments for a limited time
• Included in pick-up are : Electronics, large appliances, hazardous waste, vegetative debris, construction debris, household garbage
• Federal and state aid will help pay for removing debris from public property

Gov. Scott Activates Emergency Bridge Loan Program for Small Businesses Damaged by Hurricane Irma

• Bridge loan is managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
• Provides short term, interest free loans up to $25,000 for a period of 90-180 days to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm
• Application period is from September 14, 2017 through October 31, 2017
• Small business defined as company from two to 100 employees and located in any of Florida’s 67 counties affected by the Hurricane

What to Expect When You Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

• FEMA advises that anyone who experienced property damage or loss directly caused by Hurricane Irma to register with FEMA for assistance—even if you have insurance
• Assistance may be available for rent, temporary housing and home repairs, medical needs, that may not be covered by insurance or for which you are under-insured
• Expect a FEMA inspector to contact you and schedule an inspection (no fee) of the property and a follow-up letter regarding a decision on your claim

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

• Small Business, Small agricultural cooperative and most private nonprofit organizations in a declared disaster area may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
• EIDLs provide working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster up to $2 million
• Interest rate will not exceed 4 percent per year and term of loans will not exceed 30 years
• Application can be made on line