Tornado recovery: FEMA, SBA extend deadline to apply for grants, loans

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended its deadline for survivors of the Memorial Day tornadoes to apply for disaster grants.

Anyone in the disaster-designated counties, including Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Mercer, Miami and Montgomery counties, may be eligible for a grant. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also extended its deadline to Sept. 3 for applications for low-interest disaster loans to repair homes or businesses for those referred by FEMA.

To register for FEMA, visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Phone lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., until further notice. Those interested also can use the FEMA disaster app on a smartphone.

For information about SBA loans, visit www.sba.gov/disaster, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Deaf or hard of hearing people may call 800-877-8339.