Georgia residents and businesses impacted by severe weather that passed through the state earlier this month can now apply for disaster loans from the Small Business Administration.
This is for those impacted in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Rockdale and Walton counties from the April 2 storm. That was the same night a tornado left a path of damage well into the early morning hours in Conyers. Surveyors with the National Weather Service services said an EF-2 tornado touched down with max winds of up to 115 miles per hour around Conyers. The tornado had a 9.5-mile path.
The counties included in the SBA declaration are eligible to apply for physical disaster loans -- for homes and businesses -- and economic Injury disaster loans -- for businesses.
The SBA is opening a Disaster Loan Outreach Center to help Georgians in the declared counties who need help applying for assistance. The center will open Tuesday, April 16, at the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency, which is located at 3500 East Fairview Road. For the first day that the center is open, the hours are set from noon to 6 p.m.
After that, below are the scheduled hours of operation
- Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (However, the location will be closed on April 20)
- Closed on Sundays
- The DLOC will close permanently on May 2 at 4 p.m.
Applicants can apply online using the Electronic Loan Application on SBA's website. The SBA disaster assistance customer service center can be contacted by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at 1-800-659-2955 for further assistance.