Crawford County storm victims can apply for federal disaster loans
Low-interest SBA loans cover damage from the Sept. 2-3 storms. Crawford County is not included in the current state disaster-grant area.
Crawford County residents, businesses and nonprofits damaged by the Sept. 2-3 severe storms and flash flooding can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA approved Gov. Josh Shapiro's request for assistance for Clinton and Erie counties. Crawford is one of eight neighboring counties that also qualify, along with Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Lycoming, Potter, Union and Warren.
Loan amounts
Homeowners: up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence.
Homeowners and renters: up to $100,000 to repair or replace personal property.
Businesses and most private nonprofits: up to $2 million for losses not fully covered by insurance.
Small businesses and most private nonprofits with substantial economic injury may also qualify for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Loans can run up to 30 years. The SBA sets repayment terms case by case, based on each borrower's ability to repay.
Deadlines
Physical damage applications: Nov. 23, 2026.
Economic injury applications: June 22, 2027.
How to apply
Phone: SBA Customer Service Center, 1-800-659-2955. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 for relay services.
Email: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Reference Pennsylvania Disaster Number PA-20044.
Online: sba.gov/disaster
By mail: Paper applications can be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155-2243.
In-person help
The nearest Disaster Loan Outreach Center is at the Salvation Army, 1022 Liberty St., Erie. It is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, and closed Sundays. The center closes for good at 1 p.m. Oct. 10. You don't need to visit it to apply.
State grants: Crawford County not included
The state's Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, run by PEMA, offers grants of up to $20,000 to lower-income homeowners and renters who are uninsured or underinsured. Only municipalities that issued a local disaster proclamation are eligible. The state's Sept. 24 announcement listed eligible municipalities in Centre, Clinton, Erie and Lycoming counties. Crawford County was not included.
Background
Severe storms moved through Crawford County on Sept. 2 and 3. On Sept. 2, the National Weather Service warned of golf ball-size hail, 60 mph wind gusts and torrential rain in parts of the county, including Meadville, Cochranton, Saegertown and Conneaut Lake. On the evening of Sept. 3, a second warning cited 60 mph wind gusts for areas including Linesville, Harmonsburg, Conneaut Lake, Jamestown and Hartstown.
Sources: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency; U.S. Small Business Administration; National Weather Service.
Sources
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