WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) announced that following their efforts to secure a major disaster declaration, businesses and residents in Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell County can now file their applications for low-interest disaster relief loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help with their recovery efforts following severe flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred in the region on August 30-31, 2021.

“We are glad that following our efforts, the Administration has approved disaster assistance to help the residents and businesses of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell counties impacted by the extreme rainfall in August 2021 and Virginians can now apply for support,” said the Members. “We will continue working to ensure impacted communities have the resources they need to recover from this tragic natural disaster.”

In October, Sens. Warner and Kaine and Rep. Morgan Griffith sent a bipartisan and bicameral letter to President Biden to express their strong support for Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam’s September 30th request for a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia and Buchanan County.

On October 26, the President approved Virginia’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which provided Public Assistance for Buchanan County and Hazard Mitigation for the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, on October 29, 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a formal denial of Governor Northam’s request for Individual Assistance for Buchanan County.

In December, Senators Warner and Kaine and Rep. Morgan Griffith sent a bipartisan and bicameral letter to President Biden asking his Administration to approve an appeal that would grant federal assistance to individual residents in and around Hurley. Despite these efforts, Virginia’s appeal was ultimately denied last month. 

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website here and should apply under SBA declaration # 17332, not for the COVID-19 incident. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate and for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Completed applications can also be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

The deadline to apply for physical property damage is April 4, 2022 and the deadline for economic injury applications is Nov. 2, 2022. 

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