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A key figure in President Biden’s cabinet and the future of Southwest Florida, she toured some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian late Tuesday and witnessed the enormity of what was to come.
“It’s been called one of the most significant disasters in American history, and it definitely is in Florida,” said Isabella Casillas Guzman, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, who called the New Orleans area. He referred to the 2005 hurricane that hit.
“I haven’t seen anything of this scale since Katrina. Clearly, lives have been lost and communities are affected. This is definitely long term.”
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Guzman understands the pain he feels after witnessing what was left at Fort Myers Beach after the Ian incident, which officially claimed the lives of 109 Florida people, including 54 in Lee County and 5 in Collier. did.
“You could see it in the devastation of the local businesses we visited,” she said. “It will take a while before this becomes a safe and accessible environment.”
But Guzman also saw conviction, optimism, and love of community.
“I’ve seen it in all the commitments,” she said. “They’re trying to rebuild. This is obviously a very special place. We will see small businesses and their will move forward.It will happen and we want to make sure.We hope we can support them in that effort.”
Guzman, who was quarantined at home with a mild case of COVID-19 and was unable to come to Southwest Florida with President Biden earlier this month, said she took Tuesday’s trip to address the challenges and needs of local residents firsthand. He said it was important to learn.
“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Florida small businesses and residents affected by this disaster in every way possible.” We do our best to provide.”
$75 billion in losses expected
The Biden administration is helping make that happen by opening at least three SBA business recovery centers in southwest Florida.
place:
• The Naples Players, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Open daily at 9:00 am, closes at 4:30 pm on Mondays, and 5:00 pm Tuesday-Sunday.
• SWFL Inc. Hub, 25071 Chamber Drive, Bonita Springs. Hours are Monday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
• Cape Coral Kiwanis Club, 360 Santa Barbara Blvd. S., Cape Coral. Hours are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and are closed the rest of the day.
“The goal here is resilience and recovery,” said Allen M. Thomas, who was nominated by Biden. SBA Regional Manager“Sometimes the paperwork can take months, even when you think you have insurance. But in many cases, you can come in now and have your money literally within days. No need to wait months and months, you can get the source.
“And if the insurance goes through, they can always take out the SBA components and you’ll already be on the road to recovery.”
Beaches and coastal spots are still in a state of massive disruption, according to Category 4 Ian, one of the most severe hurricane-affected locations in the United States on September 28. Reinsurance broker Stonybrook Capital estimates the total damage from the behemoth to be at least $75 billion.
Insurance-related stock markets “fear the worst and have already priced in, suggesting Ian’s losses could be close to $75 billion, with Stony Brook Capital topping them and I agree that it’s probably significantly higher than $75 billion,” said Morton Lane, who has headed consulting firm Lane Financial since 1995.
“Everything in Times Square has flowed into hotels and restaurants.”
The run-down businesses include the Lighthouse Resort Inn and Suites, now located in San Carlos Bay about 200 feet away from calm surf, and others that Tommy Kohler operates adjacent to the base area of the bridge entering Estero Island. This includes venues for
“I’m very happy that everything is still there, but it’s been hit pretty hard. Everything in Times Square basically spilled into our hotel and restaurant courtyard and it hit pretty hard. “Our main focus right now is cleanup and getting our employees back to work. We’re working hard to help clean up and help businesses get back up and running.” , provided them with all the work.”
Kohler said an infusion of cash will be important for beach businesses while they wait for insurance companies to complete the process.
“The biggest challenge right now for the two restaurants on the beach is procuring equipment. It’s a fundraising, part of the hotel,” he said. “If you can get the right equipment, you can be up and running in a month, a month and a half, two months and get your people back to work.”
To weather this issue, Biden has asked Southwest Florida businesses and private nonprofits of all sizes to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other assets of up to 200. allowed to borrow $10,000.
“They are applying for physical damage loans as well as economic injury loans,” Thomas said. “We will continue on this path of recovery.”
Economic Damage Disaster Loans help small initiatives and most private nonprofit organizations can meet their working capital needs caused by disasters.
“Loans to get your business or home back to normal – that’s because SBA is working with Florida emergency authorities, and apparently with FEMA and others, to provide long-term resources. We’re working on a terminology recovery,” Thomas said.
About $500 million provided
Depending on the type of loan, in order to process the application, merchants and residents should provide up-to-date information such as personal statements, IDs, tax returns, and debt listings based on the sba.gov/disaster site. We need to, said Thomas. .
“Whether or not you have some or all of this, come anyway,” he said. “Let’s move you, get you in the system, let the process go.[It’s]time to reach out. Let’s move you forward.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the SBA announced it had approved $85 million in low-interest loans to affected homeowners, renters and business owners. FEMA has provided him $477 million in assistance so far, much of it in the region as well.
The deadline for returning SBA applications for property damage is November 28. The deadline for returning the economic damage claim form is June 29, 2023.
Homeowners can take up to $200,000 in disaster loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property. Homeowners and renters are eligible to receive up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or vandalized private property.
“We offer all types of loans to suit every person and situation,” said SBA specialist Terrell Perry.
As an example, these mitigation loans help residents pay for hurricane shutters and elevated homes before the next storm hits.
“We recommend that you consider mitigation in your rebuilding plan,” Perry said. “It’s the cheapest money you can find.”
With long-term, low-interest SBA loans, homeowners can pay $45 a month for a $10,000 hurricane mitigation project, she said. Her SBA loans for homeowners and renters have interest rates as low as her 2.2%.
“SBA encourages people to take out loans because it can help them perfect themselves,” Perry said. It can be repaired, the contents replaced, and if rejected for any reason, they can be returned to FEMA for so-called “other needs assistance”.
“It opens the door with FEMA, which allows FEMA to pay for rental assistance, medical, dental, legal, childcare, all sorts of things. If you get a loan, it’s great. Even if you get introduced to FEMA, you win.”
According to Perry, property owners whose Ian’s repair costs hit a high deductible could also take an SBA loan to spread the costs, and cover things like landscaping removal and fence replacement that insurance doesn’t cover. You can also use the loan to pay for other items that you don’t.
more:Hurricane Ian: Joe Biden Brings Reconstruction Aid to Ravaged Southwest Florida
When:“Challenging Infrastructure” tests FMB recovery, redevelopment.in the know
plus:Hope for recovery remains as Hurricane Ian devastates Fort Myers Beach
Where to get more help
♦ The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program is a short-term loan designed to “bridge the gap” between when a disaster impacts your business and when long-term recovery funds are available, including: provides interest-free working capital loans. Federal or commercially available loans. On Google, search for “Florida Business Loan Fund Restructuring”.
♦ Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to Florida businesses and residents. This is for the weeks of unemployment from September 25th to April 1st. For help calling 1-800-385-3920, visit your local CareerSource Career Center or go online at floridajobs.org.
more:Light shines brighter in SWFL’s aftermath of Ian as death toll rises
When:Sanibel Police Chief Says Hurricane Ian Worse Than Charlie
plus:A group is trying to bring supplies to Pine Island as part of Operation Airdrop
♦ The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has launched a business damage assessment study. Businesses affected by Ian can complete a damage assessment study by visiting floridadisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments and selecting “Hurricane Ian”.
Naples Daily News-based columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, which complements this report. Support democracy and subscribe to newspapers.
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