Homeowners and renters in New Castle County that suffered damage from September’s remnants of Tropical Storm Ida have until December 17 to apply federal loan assistance.
New Castle County did not receive a disaster declaration from FEMA or the Small Business Administration despite extensive damage along the record-swollen Brandywine Creek that flooded out a large section of rowhomes in Northeast Wilmington, along with some damage to apartments upstream from Brandywine Park.
FEMA Presidential Disasters were declared in the bordering counties of Gloucester in New Jersey, Chester and Delaware in Pennsylvania, and a SBA Administrative Declaration was issued for Cecil in Maryland.
Being a connected county to a FEMA declaration allows New Castle County small businesses and non-profits to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan that would be valued at the assessed amount of damage or $2 million, whichever is lower.
The fact Delaware was not declared a FEMA disaster zone by President Biden means that homeowners and renters could not take advantage of FEMA grants that would have covered essential needs to bring houses back up to code, or to live in apartment while repairs are being made.
