McHenry Co. declared disaster area

"I told you so" is on the tongues of water-logged McHenry County residents and business owners this week.

Homeowners, small businesses and nonprofit organizations hard hit by August flooding may finally apply for low-interest federal loans to help with the cleanup, thanks to a Nov. 16 disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In late September, McHenry County was left off a Federal Emergency Management Agency list that declared DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, LaSalle, Lake and Will federal disaster areas.

County officials said that's because state leaders low-balled the amount of monetary damage to public property as well as the amount local governments spent in public assistance.

"We said the costs originally totaled $1.5 million, but the information the state sent to Bush put it at about $370,000," said Bob Ellsworth, assistant director of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency.

McHenry County had 943 homes and businesses affected by the flood.

"Most of the damage was in the Nunda Township area," Ellsworth said. "We had flooding issues in Crystal Lake, Marengo, Woodstock and along the river in Algonquin."

Businesses and nonprofit groups may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace property, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Homeowners may apply for loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate, and both homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 for damaged personal property, according to the release.

McHenry County's Emergency Management Office, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, will serve as the area's loan outreach center.

Interested? You have about three weeks to apply, Ellsworth said.

"Small Business Administration officials are here on a daily basis until Dec. 13."