(Seguin) — The city of Seguin is teaming up with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to make sure that help is available to anyone, who received damage during last month’s flooding.
Anna Nunez, public information officer for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, made a presentation during Tuesday’s meeting of the Seguin City Council. Nunez says they’ve been working here in Seguin and Guadalupe County to provide support for those impacted by the recent storms.
“I’m here because there was a presidential major disaster declaration for the Texas severe storms, straight line winds and flooding that occurred in July,” said Nunez.
Nunez says there are several ways that the federal government can provide assistance to those who need help.
“The SBA’s disaster loans are available to help small businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters recover from declared disasters. We offer long term low interest rates to help folks rebuild and get back to business and make improvements to eliminate future damage or save lives,” said Nunez.
Despite its name, it’s not just businesses that get help from the SBA. Nunez says homeowners and renters are also eligible for assistance.
“Homeowners and renters can use the loans to replace personal property. There is no need to wait for settled insurance claims. The reason that I’m here is because there is an urgency. There is a September 4th deadline — as in this Thursday (today) for physical damage disaster loans,” said Nunez.
That looming deadline on Thursday is one of the main reasons that Nunez was again in Seguin to make sure that no one — who needs help — is left behind without support.
“All the city of Seguin folks are eligible for both physical and economic injury disaster loans from the SBA for the business physical damage loans for up to $2 million to cover physical damage and financial losses. There is an interest rate for businesses, as low as 4 percent and up to a 30-year term and deferred interest and payments for the first 12 months. For home disaster loans, (there is assistance) for up to $500,000 to cover primary residences and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster damaged personal property, such as clothing, furniture, appliances and vehicles. And finally, the economic injury disaster loan (is available). Now this is key. That application deadline is not until next year, on April 6, 2026,” said Nunez.
Nunez says getting help is easy, and she encourages anyone that may qualify for assistance to seek help from the SBA.
“There is no fee to apply, and there is no payment and no interest for 12 months. We also offer mitigation loans, so that is to help you (rebuild) better,” said Nunez.
The city has been working behind the scenes to help make sure that flood victims were being connected by both the SBA and FEMA. Councilman Jim Lievens says hopefully that means folks who need the help are already in the process of getting it.
“For those who had damage from the July 5th local floods here, I kind of have a high confidence level that as far as the folks who we know had damage, I kind of have a high confidence level they already are aware of this and have already been working with FEMA or with SBA,” said Lievens.
Mayor Donna Dodgen agrees that most flood victims have already connected with the federal agencies, but she said they want to guarantee that no one gets left behind, because they were not aware of the assistance, or they were still in need after the initial help arrived.
“I think where the gap is (that) some (people) received some FEMA funds, and it just wasn’t quite enough to meet what they needed to do. So, this is the other piece of that. They’re aware of it, but I just wanted to remind folks again about how to do that. That’s the ones I’ve been in contact with,” said Dodgen.
To apply for help, go online to sba.gov/disaster or call 800-659-2955.