Emergency Bridge Loan Program Activated For Small Businesses Impacted By Hurricane Sally
September 24, 2020
Governor Ron DeSantis has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sally.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) administers the Emergency Bridge Loan program that provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced physical damage or economic injury during Hurricane Sally. The application period is now open and runs through November 14 or until the available funds are expended.
“The intense wind, rain and flooding from Hurricane Sally has led to extensive damage in Northwest Florida,” said Governor DeSantis. “We are working diligently to help these communities recover and I encourage affected small business owners to apply for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan to assist them with necessary funding to rebuild.”
DEO administers the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program in partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation to provide cash flow to businesses damaged by a disaster. The short-term, zero-interest loans help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when long-term funding is secured, including Small Business Administration or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources. Up to $5 million has been allocated for the program.
Small business owners with two to 100 employees located in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties affected by Hurricane Sally can apply for short-term loans up to $50,000, or in special cases $100,000, if warranted by the needs of the business.
DEO is currently surveying businesses in the affected counties through the Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey. To access the survey, please visit www.FloridaDisaster.biz and select “Hurricane Sally” from the dropdown menu. Response to the damage assessment is not an application for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan.
To apply or to learn more about the eligibility requirements for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL.
Pensacola Chamber, Volunteers Provide Hot Meals At Carver Park In Cantonment
September 24, 2020
The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Mercy Chefs provided free hot meals and ice Wednesday at Carver Park in Cantonment. They were assisted by volunteers from the 479 Flying Training Group from NAS Pensacola. Teamsters 991 from Mobile, Called2Rescue and Michelle Salzman. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Identifies Bodies As Kayaker And Boater That Went Missing During Hurricane Sally
September 23, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that two bodies found this week are individuals that went missing during Hurricane Sally in unrelated incidents.
Agnieszka Sobierajska, 35, went out in her kayak last Wednesday, September 16 during Hurricane Sally near Innerarity Point Road. Her body was recovered near a condominium complex in the same general area.
The body of Brandon Nicholson was found near the Blue Angels Recreation Facility. H went missing the morning of September 16 during Hurricane Sally. Nicholson’s family said he went out in a boat to retrieve a pontoon that had been swept away by high waters.
A total of three deaths are being attributed to Hurricane Sally In Escambia County. Authorities have confirmed that a person died in Pensacola from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning after using a generator indoors. The official cause of death must be determined by the medical examiner. The name of the carbon monoxide death has not yet been released.
Your Hurricane Sally Photos Are Needed To Help Get A Disaster Declaration For Escambia County And Individual Assistance
September 23, 2020
UPDATE: A major disaster declaration was signed by President Donald Trump for Escambia County, but it does not include individual and household assistance. [Read more...] Your photographs are still needed as Escambia County continues to seek individual and household assistance.
Escambia County needs help after Hurricane Sally. We need what’s called an Individual and Households Program (IHP) declaration from FEMA that, simply put, helps people.
And there’s a way you can help advocate for assistance for you, your friends and neighbors, and your family that need help in Escambia County.
Gather several photos that show your damage, write a short email (up to 200 words) telling your story about Hurricane Sally damage, include the physical address of the damage and send the email it to hurricanesally@myescambia.com. Escambia County will use the information to advocate for the federal assistance needed in Escambia County, including help for individuals and households.
“I plead with citizens to take the time and make the effort to send their photos and their personal stories,” Escambia County Commission Chairman Steven Barry said. “They become an integral part of the FEMA application as it relates to the individual assistance component, which is what will put money directly in the citizen’s hands to help with their restoration of their way of life.”
ECUA Recycling Facility Heavily Damaged By Hurricane Sally, Putting Local Recycling Programs On Hold
September 23, 2020
Recycling in Escambia County is temporarily on hold after Hurricane Sally substantially damaged the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Materials Recycling Facility at Perdido Landfill.
The facility sustained about $800,000 in damage to the structure and equipment. A building contractor is already on site, has completed inspections and is ready to begin rehabilitation work.
The best estimate right now is that the facility will be in service and ECUA recycling will return at the end of October.
“I want to assure our customers that ECUA is 150% committed to our program, and we are going to work to have the facility back up and running as safely and quickly as possible,” ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said Tuesday afternoon.
Bowers encourage residents to try to stay in the habit of recycling, if possible, by storing clean recyclables in their cans until service resumes.
ECUA also provided recycling service to several other municipalities using the facility, including Pensacola and Atmore, also putting those recycling program on hold.
The ECUA MRF processed 49,197 tons of recyclables during fiscal year 2019.
Pictured: Damage to the ECUA Material Recycling Facility at the Perdido Landfill. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Porch Pirate Caught On Camera
September 23, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a porch pirate caught on camera.
The suspect pictured stole a package from a resident on 9 1/2 Mile Road, according to the ECSO.
Anyone with information on her identify is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Photo: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
Cantonment Man Charged With Strangling Girlfriend After She Took Away His Liquor
September 23, 2020
A Cantonment man is charged with attacking and strangling his girlfriend after she took away his liquor.
Alfred Loranzo Lee, 37, was charged with aggravated battery, battery by strangulation and obstructing justice.
Lee’s girlfriend told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she took his liquor away from him after he became agitated, and she asked him to leave. She said Lee would not leave, so she went to Wendy’s for about 45 minutes.
When she returned home, she refused to return Lee’s liquor, so he then choked her and bit the top of her head, according to an arrest report. He also grabbed a phone from her and prevented her from calling 911.
Lee then grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen and cut her arm before hitting her on top of the head with the handle of the knife, the report states. The victim sought medical attention at West Florida Hospital for her injuries.
Lee told deputies, “I did what I had to do to defend myself”, according to the ECSO report. He would not provide the investigating deputy any further details.
Lee remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $18,000.
Hurricane Sally Debris Removal Is Underway In Escambia County
September 23, 2020
Curbside removal of Hurricane Sally debris removal got underway on Wednesday in Escambia County.
Escambia County residents, that can safely do so, are asked to place any storm-generated debris on the public right of way (the area of residential property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement.)
Debris that was generated by Hurricane Sally should be placed and sorted on the area immediately adjoining the road in front of your home. The county has divided its jurisdiction into three zones and contracted with three separate companies to accomplish the debris removal in 90 days.
Residents are urged to separate the debris as follows:
- Vegetative Debris (whole trees, tree stumps, tree branches, tree trunks and other leafy material)
- Construction and Demolition Debris (damaged components of buildings and structures such lumber and wood, wall board, glass, metal, roofing materials, tile, furnishings and fixtures)
- Appliances and White Goods (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heat pumps, ovens, ranges, washing machines, clothes dryers and water heaters)
- Electronic Waste (computers, televisions, office electronic equipment, etc.)
- Household Hazardous Waste (materials that are ignitable, reactive, toxic or corrosive such as paints, cleaners, pesticides, etc.)
- Only loose debris will be collected; bagged debris should not be placed on the public right of way. Make every attempt to avoid stacking debris below low hanging power or utility lines.
Do not place debris within four feet of:
- Mailboxes
- Water meters
- Fire hydrants, or any other above-ground utility
- Only debris placed on the public right of way will be eligible for collection until further notice.
If all debris is not picked up during the initial pass, please continue to push remaining debris to the right of way for collection on subsequent passes.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Barge Damage Worse Than First Thought
September 23, 2020
Barge damage to the Pensacola Bay Bridge during Hurricane Sally is worse that first thought, and there is no timetable yet for the repair.
“The department understands how critical this facility is to the community and is also working to develop the repair plan necessary to restore the bridge back to a condition that will last for decades to come. These efforts are being done as quickly, but thoroughly, as possible and the exact timeline for completion of repairs remains unknown at this time,” the Florida Department of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday.
A preliminary inspection found:
- About 30 spans were impacted from total collapse to minor damage.
- At least four bridge piers have rotated as a result of barge impact. That can result in an uneven level of stress on the span, potentially requiring additional repair work.
- At least one pier has suffered cracked pilings, which is the portion that extends underwater into the ground. FDOT continues to assess all piers to identify if any others
- have suffered cracks and will then determine a repair plan.
- No damage to arch section of the bridge deck has been detected at this time.
While FDOT’s inspection work can continue at other areas of the bridge, removing the contractor’s barges from the bridge is necessary for FDOT to complete its full inspection. FDOT is working with the contractor and has requested that the contractor provide a timeline for the removal of the barges.
FDOT has an increased amount of crew members out inspecting the bridge due to the circumstances, but the conditions (wind and water clarity) are not favorable. For reference, a full inspection of this bridge under normal and favorable conditions can take up to three weeks.
As inspection efforts continue, FDOT will concurrently work to reconstruct the spans that need to be replaced and complete repairs that must be done before re-opening the bridge to traffic. Minor repairs that can be done while the bridge is open will be addressed and prioritized accordingly.
The bridge closure is still anticipated to be for an extended period of time. A more specific estimate and impacts to the current construction schedule will be known once the full assessment and repair plan are determined. Once the situation is fully assessed, and damages are fully understood, appropriate parties will be held responsible for the repairs.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. FDOT has suspended the tolls on the Garcon Point bridge for another 30 days due to the bridge damage. The toll suspension will continue until 6 a.m. Friday, October 23.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Chamber, Florida DEO Want To Hear About Hurricane Damage To Your Business
September 23, 2020
State and local leaders are asking local businesses to report their Hurricane Sally damage reports.
“We are still waiting for the major federal disaster declaration from Washington,” said Todd Thomson, president of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. “To help tell that story, we need some photos or videos of damage that you’ve suffered.”
Photos and videos, with a business location address, can be sent to news@pensacolachamber.com in order to help the are get that federal disaster declaration.
Newly appointed director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Dane Eagle assessed damage in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on Tuesday. He said one of the important things businesses can do right now is document their damage and report it at floridadisaster.biz.
“That is going to be an opportunity for us to look at the community, see what kind of damage you sustained,” he said, adding that his office will then look at matching business needs with available resources.
“We’re encouraging all businesses to go on there, fill out the damage assessment survey, that’s going to give us an idea of how bad the damage is,” Eagle said. “We know it’s bad, but let’s get a good assessment of that.”
Eagle said Northwest Florida will recover.
“Floridians, we’ve been through a recession, we’ve been through countless hurricanes, we’ve been through oil spill, we’ve been through red tide. We are survivors. We’re going to fight, we’re going to do better.”
Pictured: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Director Dane Eagle during a press conference Tuesday in Escambia County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.