FEMA, SBA Assistance Available At Velma FD
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Small Business Administration Public
Affairs Specialist Julie Garrett
VELMA – Residents affected by January’s devastating Winter Storm Fern have an opportunity this week to meet face-to-face with federal and state disaster assistance officials as a Disaster Recovery Center is operating at the Velma Volunteer Fire Department at 12270 Highway 7 (south of Water Valley).
The center continues operations Wednesday, May 13, through Saturday, May 16 and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 pm. Saturday. Representatives from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other disaster recovery agencies will assist residents with recovery information and applications.
While multiple agencies will be available at the center, SBA officials said many residents may not realize the range of assistance available through the agency’s low-interest disaster loan programs.
Julie Garrett, public affairs specialist with the SBA, said the in-person center is especially important for residents who may not feel comfortable navigating the application process online.
“I love face-to-face myself,” Garrett said during an interview with the Herald.
The SBA disaster loan program was activated following the federal disaster declaration connected to the Jan. 23-27 ice storm that caused widespread tree damage, extended power outages and major cleanup expenses across Yalobusha County and much of North Mississippi.
Garrett said one of the biggest misconceptions residents have is assuming SBA assistance is only available to businesses.
“A lot of people, because of our name, think it’s just business,” Garrett said.
Under the program, homeowners may qualify for up to $500,000 to repair primary residences, while homeowners and renters may qualify for up to $100,000 for personal property losses including vehicles. Businesses and nonprofits may qualify for loans up to $2 million.
Garrett emphasized that many residents may still qualify even if they already paid for repairs out of pocket months ago.
“So, the storm already happened, and it happened a long time ago now,” Garrett explained. “People might have had to draw down their savings, or they might have had to put it on a credit card. A disaster loan can pay that back.”
She said the loans currently carry no interest and no payments for the first year, giving residents time to stabilize financially before repayment begins.
“For that first year, it’s a zero percent loan,” Garrett said. “There’s no prepayment penalty. There’s no cost to apply.”
The SBA also offers mitigation funding that can help residents strengthen homes against future disasters. Garrett said those improvements can include storm shelters, stronger garage doors and other protective upgrades. SBA mitigation assistance can increase approved loans by up to 20 percent of verified physical damages from the winter storm.
Garrett also noted that many insurance policies today no longer cover items commonly damaged during storms, including fencing, landscaping, debris removal and tree work. SBA loans may help fill those gaps.
Officials also reminded residents not to pay anyone claiming they can help process SBA or FEMA applications. Garrett said legitimate SBA and FEMA workers never charge fees for assistance.
Residents may also apply electronically for SBA disaster assistance online at sba.gov/disaster or by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Applications for physical property damage assistance must be submitted by June 10, while economic injury applications remain open until Jan. 11, 2027.
