Maryland lawmakers ask SBA for disaster declaration

The entire Maryland congressional delegation is urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a physical disaster for a county in the state affected by severe flooding.

“This physical disaster determination is necessary to help ensure that small business owners can get the physical disaster loan assistance and economic injury disaster loan assistance they need,” the lawmakers said Tuesday in a letter to SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Tuesday requested that the SBA declare a disaster for Howard County, Md., in the wake of significant flooding in the county’s Ellicott City on July 30. At least 60 homeowners, renters and small-business owners had their property significantly damaged or destroyed, and more than 82 structures sustained at least minor damage, the letter said.

“Given the massive impact that this flooding had on Ellicott City’s small businesses and residents, we respectfully request that you expeditiously approve this request,” the lawmakers said.