Wolf gets disaster declaration to help people affected by Overbrook apartment fires

Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at his 2019 inauguration, Jan. 15, 2019, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Photo credit The Office of Governor Tom Wolf via Flickr
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Victims of the Overbrook Garden Apartments fire in December are now eligible for federal help.

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf says his request for a disaster declaration in the wake of the Dec. 10 fire, which ripped through the building at 63rd and Jefferson streets, leaving nearly 60 people homeless, was approved by the federal government.

Wolf says it opens the door now for those affected by the fire to apply to the Small Business Administration for low-interest loans under the SBA's Disaster Loans program.

The SBA will establish a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Haddington Library, 446 N. 65th Street, in Philadelphia.

Open

  • Thursday, Jan. 17: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Jan. 18: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 19: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Closed

  • Sunday, Jan. 20
  • Monday, Jan. 21

Open

  • Tuesday, Jan. 22: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 23: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Jan. 24: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Jan. 25: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired); or by e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan applications can also be downloaded. 

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website. 

Completed applications should be returned to the local DLOC 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 March 15, 2019. The deadline to return economic injury disaster loan applications is Oct. 15, 2019.