Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)<https://www.sba.gov/> are available to businesses and residents in Georgia following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 25.

"SBA's mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and residents in Georgia impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden's disaster declaration for certain affected areas," said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman<https://www.sba.gov/person/isabella-casillas-guzman>. "We're committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild."

The disaster declaration covers Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler; which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Baldwin, Bleckley, Brantley, Bryan, Charlton, Dodge, Effingham, Elbert, Hancock, Long, McIntosh, Mitchell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Twiggs, Warren, Wayne, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth counties in Georgia; Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison in Florida; Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, Hampton, Jasper and McCormick in South Carolina.

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

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