From staff reports
Owners of homes and businesses who were affected by the July 19 and 20 flash flooding received what they could have perceived as welcome news on page 3 of Thursday’s The Derrick and The News-Herald.
The story – “Feds offer loans to those affected by flash flooding” – informed readers that they can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to address damage to their properties, and provided a toll-free number to call.
However, a Seneca resident affected by the flash flooding informed the newspaper on Friday that she called the number and that someone with SBA told her that Venango County was not on its list for loans.
Michael Lampton, manager of public affairs in the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Division, told the newspaper on Friday that Venango County residents are eligible for the loans.
Lampton said if anyone receives information that conflicts with what appeared in the newspaper, to again call SBA and refer the representative to “Pennsylvania Declaration 16091” as the point of reference.
