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The Newscaster/Nature Coast News

PAGE 11 - October 12, 2016

Searching For The Truth

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to

Residents Affected by Hurricane Hermine

Winter's Near...

WASHINGTON The U.S. Small Business Administration's Administrator Maria Contre-

tHave you considered how treesGetting Ready?

he Trees are close up shop for

ras-Sweet issued the following statement after the announcement of the Presidential disaster

declaration for several counties in Florida affected by Hurricane Hermine that occurred on

Aug. 31 - Sept. 11, 2016: "The U.S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to

providing the people of Florida with the most effective and customer-focused response pos-

the winter? Every autumn, all over the colder parts of the

sible to assist businesses, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans. Getting busi-

world, trees get ready for winter. All through spring and

nesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at the SBA."

summer, their leaves have acted like little factories, busily

The disaster declaration covers the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsbor-

making food. They absorbed carbon dioxide from the air,

ough, Leon, Levy, Pasco, and Pinellas in Florida which are eligible for both Physical and

drew water from the soil, and used sunlight in a complex

Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit

process called photosynthesis allowing them to store food

organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Eco-

in the form of starches and sugars. But the onset of winter

nomic Injury Disaster Loans: Alachua, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hardee, Jefferson, Lafayette,

means freezing temperatures. Frozen leaves do not work

Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Polk, Sumter, Taylor and Wakulla in Florida; Grady and Thomas

well. Frozen ground water does not flow.

counties in Georgia.

In the winter, food production stops, and trees close down. During autumn,

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2

the leaves on the trees turn from green to varying shades of yellow, red and orange. At

million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equip-

the point where each leaf stem is attached to a twig, special layers of cells grow mak-

ment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount

ing a wall. This blocks the water flow to the leaf, revealing colors hidden during the

increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation

spring and summer by the green chlorophyll of photosynthesis. This wall also seals the

purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may now include a safe room or storm shelter

gaping hole in the twig when the dead leaf falls off. Because the leaves have stopped

to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

needing water, the roots stop pulling water from the soil. By the time winter arrives,

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aqua-

the tree's water transfer "pipes" have been drained, preventing internal damage to the

culture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster

tree from water expansion during freezing.

Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster

The tree also needs to be ready for the next spring, so even before it shuts

Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical prop-

down for the winter, while it is still actively growing during the summer, it starts form-

erty damage.

ing next year's leaves. These leaves are packaged as neat little buds with weather-re-

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace di-

sistant scales in order to survive the harsh winter. When spring arrives, the tree is ready

saster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000

to reveal its hidden miniature leaves. How could anyone believe that this complicated

to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

process happened by accidental, random, chance, or mutational changes over time? or

Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for nonprofit or-

thou, Lord, has made me glad through your work: I will triumph in the works of your

ganizations and 1.563 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan

hands. O Lord, how great are your works! - Psalm 92:4-5

amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Based on, Inspired Evidence a book by Bruce Malone, 2011

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA's

Presented by Bob Allen, Biologist-Paid Advertisement

secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Contact Bob at SFTT321@gmail.com

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register on-

line at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. If online or mobile

access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362.

In Levy County assistance is also available at Inglis Town Hall, 135 Hwy 40 West, Inglis or

in Cedar Key at the Volunteer Fire and Rescue station, 489 First St. Cedar Key. The filing

deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 28, 2016. The deadline

to return economic injury applications is June 28, 2017.

Crystal River fire isolated to kitchen area

Units with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Fire Rescue Division, were dis-

patched to a Crystal River residence at 7:51 pm, Oct. 8, and arrived at 7:58 pm to 7977 W.

Riverbend Rd. to find a 2000 square foot home with light smoke showing. Engine 9 from

DeRosa was the first to arrive and found a fire in the kitchen area. The crew made an interior

offensive attack on the fire and stopped it in the kitchen at 8:05 pm. The cause of the fire was

determined to be accidental. Engine 14 from Citrus Springs and Engine 20 from Pine Ridge

assisted with checking for hidden fires and ventilation. No injuries were reported, and the

damage to the home and its contents was estimated at $24,000.

Hurricane Matthew - Continued from page 10

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has posted preliminary statewide Hur-

ricane Matthew claims data on its website at: http://www.floir.com/Sections/PandC/Pro-

ductReview/CatastropheReporting.aspx.

While evacuees from the east coast of Florida fled to the west coast to seek shelter, many

These initial results show a total of 4,973 claims have been reported across Florida

were turned away from motels posting no vacancies. Shelters were opened on the Nature

with estimated insured losses at $21 million. However, it is important to note that these

coast to take in those that could not get lodging. Meanwhile first responders from Citrus and

estimates include data collected from an initial short reporting period of only three days

Sumter counties traveled to the east coast to help out. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Fire

Friday, October 7, 2016 at 3:00p.m. through Sunday, October 9, 2016 at midnight.

Rescue Light Technical Rescue Team arrived in St. John's County, FL on Oct. 8, searching the

As many displaced consumers return to their communities and homes to assess

Coastal Hwy and A1A, assisting in any manner they could in one of the hardest hit areas by

damage and initiate the claims process, these numbers will increase across the state in the

Hurricane Matthew in eastern Florida. CCSO Photo.

days and weeks ahead.

Taylor Made

River Coast Realty, Inc.

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