Federal disaster loan center opens in Big Sur

Tori Chesebrough-Buckles has been dealing with extensive damage to her road and well from relentless storms that hit the Central Coast earlier this year.

“Most of us have dirt roads, access to our dwellings,” said Buckles. “Due to the rains a lot of the roads have just fallen in just like the highway.”

Shops and restaurants in Big Sur have also taken a hit. The Ripplewood Resort said it lost about 45 percent of its business due to road closures caused by storm damage.

“Depressed, no money,” said Juan Perez with Ripplewood Resort. “Basically community and public faces we don’t see for long time. So oh my God this is not good.”

The Small Business Administration has set up a Disaster Loan Outreach Center in the Big Sur Station to help out businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations and homeowners who suffered storm damage, apply for federal disaster loans to pay for repairs and profits lost.

“Checking into it and we’ll just take it a step at a time,” said Buckles.

Businesses can get up to $2 million and homeowners up to $200,000. Some people are just looking for help to cover what their insurance will nott.

“Whether we’ll get a loan or not I don’t know yet,” said Buckles.

Ripplewood appreciates the offer, but most likely will pass on taking out a loan.

“Because you fix one problem and in the future you have more problems with making payments.”

The center will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Y ou can learn more about the loans by clicking HERE .