Only those with homes or businesses in the 26 counties designated as federal disaster areas are eligible for the low-interest loans from the SBA. The loan money can be used by homeowners, renters and business owners for Ian-related damages.https://disasterloanassistance.sba.govLee County, especially Fort Myers Beach and its other barrier islands, bore the brunt of Ian’s assault on Florida’s coastline. The storm, a Category 4 when it made landfall Sept. 28 at 3:05 p.m.
The massive storm pummeled the state with crushing storm surge, obliterating wind speeds and torrential rainfall, leaving a swath of devastation from the southwestern coast across the I-4 corridor. The hurricane, the fifth-most powerful to ever hit the U.S., left countless homes and businesses wrecked or underwater and nearly 2.7 million people without power.
In all, more than $2.35 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments has been provided to the state of Florida and households to help survivors jumpstart their recovery after Hurricane Ian, theUSA Today Network-Florida government accountability reporter Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee, Fla. He can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. Twitter: @DouglasSoule
Sergio Bustos is Enterprise/Politics Editor for Florida's Gannett/USA Today Network. He's based in South Florida. Email: floridapolitics@gannett.com