Disaster relief loans available

Hundreds of earthquakes struck Brawley, Calif., last month, with several of the jolts felt in Yuma County. No injuries or damages were reported to police or the Yuma County's Office of Emergency Management.

However, residents and business owners in Yuma County who feel they were affected may qualify for low-interest federal disaster loans to repair damage caused by the quakes that began on Aug. 26.

Homeowners and business owners can also apply for additional U.S. Small Business Administration funds to make improvements to prevent or minimize future damage.

The SBA is accepting applications for disaster relief loans, with interest rates starting at 1.688 percent for homeowners, 3 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses. Terms will be offered for up to 30 years.

Disaster loans of up to $200,000 are available for homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, with an additional $40,000 available to homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses may apply for up to $2 million to repair and replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Applications can be filed online at https://disasterloan.sbe.gov/ela. Additional information and applications are also available by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or calling 1-800-659-2955.

The filing deadline for property damage relief is Nov. 18. The filing deadline for economic injury applications is June 1.

The U.S. Geological Survey registered more than 400 tremors during the earthquake swarm, with several felt in Yuma. The biggest was a magnitude 5.5 that struck two miles south-southwest of Brawley.

The USGS recorded a magnitude-2.7 tremor 19 miles northwest of Yuma and a magnitude-2.6 tremor 16 miles south of San Luis.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub or on Twitter at @YSMaraKnaub.