East Ridge Joins N. Georgia in Getting SBA Assistance

It's been a month now since flood waters inundated parts of the tri-state area.

Some homeowners still haven't recovered, and starting next Tuesday the SBA will set-up shop in East Ridge to help anyone who may have been overlooked.

The governor had to make that request.

Sunnydale street in East Ridge is right next to Chickamauga Creek where seven homes were damaged so much by the fast-rising flood waters that workers are still there 30 days later rehabing and rebuilding. Homeowners are trying to salvage what they can, including city councilman Denny Manning.

DENNY MANNING, E.R. COUNCILMAN AND FLOOD VICTIM "It all got thrown in the dumpster...lost everything I own....all told about 155-thousand dollars worth of stuff. "

Denny Manning has insurance but not all of his neighbors do.

DENNY MANNING "Like this lade here...she had insurance on her home..but not on the contents."

That neighbor may qualify for a low interest SBA loan. The agency is setting up a help center at the East Ridge City hall next Tuesday.

TOM NOCERA, SBA SPOKESMAN "We can't duplicate by law what's covered by your insurance , and what you might receive from other sources...however, this is hand-up to folks who may need some assistance..in getting back on their feet."

The rate on those SBA loans is 2.75 percent.

Flooding from the South Chickamauga creek was not extensive in East Ridge, but for the three or 4 low-lying areas it was a true disaster. Residents of those neighborhoods required help from the Red Cross, Salvation army, emergency management and the city last month. Now, officials are beginning to look for ways to keep it from happening again, starting with a hazard mitigation plan.

WILLIAM WHITSON, E.R. CITY MANAGER "From there we are going to work on grant funding and the various engineering options that may be available."

Whitson says that's a long range plan. It could take millions off dollars to execute and include a series of levies.

In the meantime, city leaders are hoping there's not another big rain in their future that would require assistance from the SBA and other government agencies.

Three counties in north Georgia were declared disaster areas the week after the flooding, and FEMA and SBA were there in force.

But until now, East Ridge residents were not eligible for SBA loan assistance.