Last July, severe storms and flash floods hurt roads, homes, and businesses. Now those hurt by the storms may apply for low-interest loans.

The United States Small Business Administration has granted Governor Andrew Cuomo’s request for a Physical Disaster Declaration for Cayuga, Oneida, Rensselaer, and Wyoming counties and the contiguous counties of Albany, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Columbia, Cortland, Erie, Genesee, Greene, Herkimer, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Saratoga, Seneca, Tompkins, Washington, and Wayne.

The governor, according to a release from his office, requested that loans be made available in a letter to the SBA on Feb. 5 after the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Jan. 26 had denied the state’s appeal for a major disaster declaration.

SBA loans are often helpful when eligible homeowners, renters, businesses, and others need financial support following emergencies or weather-related disasters. Following the flooding, staff from the SBA, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and leadership from the declared counties conducted an assessment of the damages.

This assessment confirmed that there was major damage in these four counties to 65 homes, 38 businesses, and two not-for-profits totaling $3.5 million in damages. Minor damage occurred to 176 homes, 18 businesses, and four non-profits totaling $1.9 million in damages.

The following groups may be eligible for help from SBA loans for the following:

— Homeowners: up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate;

— Homeowners and renters: up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property;

— Business owners: up to $2 million for the replacement of real estate, inventories, machinery, equipment, and other physical losses; and

— Businesses and not-for-profits: Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to provide necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster.

Interest rates can be as low as 1.938 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.5 percent for not-for-profit organizations, and 3.215 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Individuals and businesses may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Individuals and businesses may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, or by emailing . Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster.

Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is April 16. The deadline to return economic injury applications is November 13.