Only two applications have been submitted to the U.S. Small Business Administration for home disaster, business physical disaster and economic injury loans.
The deadline to apply for a physical property damage loan was Monday, and only one person took advantage of it, said Mary Gipson, SBA public affairs specialist. One business owner applied to be considered for an economic injury loan, she said.
SBA will continue to offer economic injury loans to those who qualify.
The filing deadline for economic injury is June 13.
Applicants can obtain information by calling the SBA’s customer service center at (800) 659-2955 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Loan applications can be downloaded at www.sba.gov.
Gipson said the low number was not a surprise.
“It’s very likely most people had insurance,” she said.
She said the economic injury loans may take longer to trickle in.
“It takes them a little longer for them to feel the crunch,” Gipson said.
The Labor Day tornado that ripped through Cherokee County caused $17.8 million in damages.
The tornado, which developed from Tropical Storm Lee, left a 24-mile path of damage as it hit areas in Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton, Ball Ground and Nelson before crossing into eastern Pickens County.
A total of 711 residential structures were affected in some way, and 66 commercial structures were damaged.
All the debris and external damage caused by the tornado in the Brookshire neighborhood has been cleared, said homeowners association president John Szczesniak.
“Almost everyone I know that had damage had filed insurance claims,” he said. “Some are still waiting on the process to clear.”
Szczesniak said some residents are also waiting on the homeowners association to approve its architectural requests to get the green light to repair the damage.
Almost 50 homes were hit in the Woodstock subdivision, three of which suffered major damage, Szczesniak said.
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