BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. – U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler visited South Georgia on Friday to survey damage from the Highway 82 wildfires and meet with business owners and local officials as the federal government considers disaster assistance for the region.
Loeffler toured hard-hit areas in Clinch, Echols and Brantley counties and spoke with residents and business owners who say the fires destroyed homes, buildings and livelihoods. Officials said more than 100 structures have been destroyed across the affected counties.
“This is why we stay on the road outside of Washington — to bring the right resources to bear,” Loeffler said during the visit.
The SBA, the federal government’s largest provider of disaster loans, is conducting damage assessments in the area. Those assessments are used to help determine whether a formal disaster declaration will be requested and approved — a step that would open access to low-interest SBA disaster loans for eligible homeowners, renters and businesses.
Ginger Hunter, who owned a wedding chapel in Brantley County, said she also lost her home in the fires and has spent the past two weeks trying to process what happened.
“The first day when I saw the place, I said, ‘Lord, this is too much,’” Hunter said.
SBA disaster loans can include long-term, low-interest financing for repair and rebuilding, officials said. Business loans can be offered up to $2 million, and home and personal property loans can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on eligibility and need.
Chris Stallings, an SBA associate administrator in the agency’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, said the assessment process is the first step before state leaders and federal officials decide next moves.
“Once that application is put in, we work to quickly get a yes as soon as possible,” Stallings said.
Federal officials said a decision on next steps could come within days once assessments are completed.
In the meantime, Hunter has also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with recovery efforts. The fundraiser, titled “Hope 4 Our Future After Fire in Brantley Co GA,” can be found here.
In Brantley County, where burned-out buildings and charred debris still mark neighborhoods and business properties, Hunter said she hopes the visit leads to help for families trying to rebuild.
“I’m so thankful they were able to come together, see a little bit about our story,” she said. “I’m hoping they’re here to help us.”