It’s been over a week since flooding hit the Somerset County Area, and residents are still recovering.
Governor Josh Shapiro announced he’s looking to bring Federal help to residents and business owners.
Reporter Baylee Wojcik spoke with residents who say this could make a major difference.
“Everything that I worked for all my life, my goal was always to work with race cars. All that’s gone it’s all under water.”
That’s Mark Smith, who owns MS Shock Therapy, a race car repair shop in Meyersdale. While he says he’s used to minor flooding in his business each year, which has been located in the same place since 1989, he says last week’s flooding is the worst it’s ever been.
Smith walked me through his shop, which he says lost several pieces of equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars each in the flood.
“A little guy in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania is on the urge of just saying I quit. If there would be some Federal Government money, if there would be something just to say hey, we’re here. We’re gonna help”
Smith isn’t alone. I spoke to Randy Padfield with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, who says that his organization has noted dozens of other homes and organizations facing intense repairs across Somerset County.
Fortunately, Padfield says there’s a plan in the works to help these people out.
“We worked with the Small Business Administration over the years they provide low interest loans to homeowners, households and businesses that have been impacted by the disaster, whatever that happens to be.”
He says that Wednesday Morning, Governor Josh Shapiro submitted a request to the Small Business Administration to enact a Disaster Loan Program in Somerset County, which can provide up to $500,000 for home and business owners, and $100,000 for renters.
He says that once the SBA approves the request, the loans will be available for those in need.
“Once we receive that declaration, SBA is going to look for a physical location to stand up what’s called a Disaster Loan Outreach Center. That’s a physical location where individuals can come and apply for loans and work with individuals from the Small Business Administration and to see what they would be available for.”