EFFINGHAM — Nearly a month after a tornado struck Effingham County, board member Norbert Soltwedel expressed concern about whether the county is doing everything it can to help those affected by the disaster.
During the county’s Administrative Committee meeting Monday, Soltwedel noted that a house he rents out was destroyed. As a result, he has a tenant who is currently homeless.
“He’s living with his parents, but that’s not an acceptable situation,” he said. “Is there anything that we can offer or is being offered to help individuals?”
A preliminary assessment by the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency revealed 30 homes were a total loss and 29 were heavily damaged.
“These families are going under a lot of stress, and we work a lot to find people housing in other situations,” he said, adding he realizes there’s a housing shortage. “What are we going to do to try to assist the individuals?”
Soltwedel emphasized that insurance is not enough.
“I had a building destroyed that cost me $55,000 six years ago, and today it’s $80,000. I didn’t have insurance for $80,000, and so that’s a big burden on a lot of people,” he said.
Effingham County Board Chairman Joshua Douthit said he met recently with U.S. Rep. Mike Bost and county leaders to assess whether they meet the thresholds for assistance. The county is applying for a grant to get reimbursed for cleanup and repairs related to the tornado. However, Douthit pointed out that this support does not extend to citizens.
“I think what people need to understand is the private residences and buildings and things you’re talking about are really covered by their insurance. There’s not going to be any funds necessarily that come from the state or federal level that are going to write checks to people,” he said.
When asked whether assistance from FEMA is possible, Douthit said they would have to meet a $24 million threshold in total uninsured losses. He said even with the tornado damage in Charleston and Effingham County combined, it still wouldn’t qualify.
“It’s my understanding that the numbers are not to that level at this point,” he said. “Anybody that has loss and has insurance, it doesn’t count. You have to have a lot of loss to get help from FEMA, to be honest.”
However, Douthit said Monday there is hope small-business loans will become available.
“They’re very, very, very, very low interest,” he said.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans for Illinois small businesses, private nonprofits and residents affected by severe storms and tornadoes June 17. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. J.B. Pritzker on July 7.
The declaration covers the Illinois counties of Clark, Clay, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Moultrie and Shelby, which are eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.
Businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind-rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
While SBA’s EIDL program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster, the SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers.
EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.875% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Beginning Wednesday, July 15, SBA customer service representatives will be available at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Effingham County to answer questions, explain the application process, and assist with completing applications. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be scheduled in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The Disaster Loan Outreach Center is located at the Effingham Board of Education office, 2803 S. Banker Street, Effingham. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 15, then from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The center will close permanently at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 30.
To apply online, visit 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, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 8. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 12, 2027.