BAMBERG, S.C. — Bamberg County officials have shared how many people were able to get disaster loan assistance over the last two weeks from the temporary outreach center set up for people affected by a damaging tornado earlier this year.
They said 39 home applications were submitted and 10 business applications. They also answered questions for about 45 other people.
The Small Business Administration approved low-interest disaster loans last month for people who suffered property damage from the January 9 tornado in Bamberg. The county says that while a temporary center to discuss that assistance has closed, residents with questions should still reach out for help with aid applications.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 21, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 23, 2024.
The tornado that struck Bamberg was an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the third highest rating on the scale which measures tornado intensity. It's believed the storm had winds between 120 and 125 miles an hour. It hit first at a barrel company on the edge of town, causing heavy damage to that structure. The twister then came down in the downtown area, causing significant damage to at least two buildings, with bricks strewn across the main road in the town.
The main highway just reopened to traffic last week.