The Shapiro Administration will host a Recovery Assistance Center (RAC) for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damages from devastating flooding on September 9, 2023, in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
The RAC will be open at Weston Field House, 982 Providence Road, Scranton, PA 18508 on the following dates and times:
- April 10, 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- April 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The Shapiro Administration requested the Small Business Administration extend the application period so that everyone who is interested has a chance to apply for a loan and get the help they need,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “We encourage anyone who is still struggling from the devastating effects of the flooding to visit the Recovery Assistance Center or contact SBA for more information.”
Survivors visiting the RAC will have the opportunity to apply for low-interest loans made available by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The center will also be staffed personnel from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (PA VOAD).
Affected homeowners and renters are strongly encouraged to complete the SBA disaster loan application, as those who do not qualify for an SBA loan may later be eligible for other assistance, including the Commonwealth’s Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP).
The deadline to return physical damage disaster loan applications is Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) applications is Friday, October 25, 2024.
The SBA’s Disaster Loan program provides low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, private non-profits, and businesses located in disaster declared counties who sustained damages from flooding. The SBA can provide up to $500,000 for homeowners to replace or repair their primary residences and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property. Businesses and most private non-profits may apply for up to $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.
Additionally, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared disaster area that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
The SBA offers long-term repayment options to keep payments affordable, with terms up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. View details about the SBA’s disaster declaration for the September 9, 2023, flooding here.
Those interested in applying may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov and referencing Disaster Declaration #20166 and #20167.
Alternatively, loan applications can be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster and completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Last modified: April 15, 2024
