Disaster Loan Outreach Center Opening In Carroll After Tornado

CARROLL COUNTY, MD — The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced it will be opening a temporary disaster loan outreach center this week in Carroll County. Residents and business owners can get information about low-interest federal disaster loans at the center. Loans are being offered in response to the EF-1 tornado that hit on Nov. 2.

At its peak intensity, the storm packed 100 mph winds and snapped trees and utility poles and caused a silo to collapse in Carroll County. It also ripped the roof off TJ Maxx in Mount Airy and caused minor structural damage elsewhere.

About 40 miles southeast of Mt. Airy, officials said there was a partial building collapse at the Amazon fulfillment center in southeast Baltimore City, and roofs were blown off apartment buildings in Dundalk.

In the aftermath of the tornado, the SBA issued a disaster declaration for Carroll as well as contiguous counties of Baltimore, Frederick and Howard in Maryland and Adams and York counties in Pennsylvania.

• Tornado Confirmed In Mount Airy: National Weather Service
• 2 Killed In Amazon Building Collapse Amid Storm: Report
• Storm Blows Roofs Off Dundalk Apartment Buildings: Officials

"Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority," Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon said in a statement. “The SBA is strongly committed to providing...businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans."

The disaster declaration allows affected businesses, homeowners and renters whose properties had damages and meet certain criteria to apply for low-interest loans for repairs.

• Businesses and nonprofit organizations can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed assets.
• Homeowners may get loans up to $200,000 to repair/replace damaged/destroyed real estate.
• Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair/replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

The filing deadline for physical property damage applications is Feb. 5, 2019, while the deadline to return economic injury applications is Sept. 9, 2019.

"We understand how profoundly a disaster like a tornado can affect our Maryland homeowners, residents, and businesses," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. "These loans are a key component of the recovery process and crucial in the rebuilding process. Our administration’s support of these communities will continue as we recover and rebuild as quickly as possible."

There are multiple ways to access information about the disaster loans:

• Visit the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Mount Airy; hours are below.
• Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955.
• Email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
• Apply online at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center In Mount Airy Opening

Customer service representatives will be at the Disaster Loan Outreach at the Mount Airy Branch of Carroll County Public Library, 705 Ridge Ave, helping people to complete their applications for disaster loans and answering questions regarding the disaster loan program.

The center will be open for these hours at the Mount Airy library at 705 Ridge Avenue:

• 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11
• 9 a.m.-6 p.m. from Wednesday, Dec. 12, to Friday, Dec. 14
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15
• Closed on Sunday, Dec. 16
• 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17
• 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18

Still of the video showing tornado damage from WBAL/YouTube.