People flooded in to the City Hall Annex last Thursday looking for relief from this past winter’s Pawtuxet River deluges.

The flooding, which lasted from Dec. 17-19, 2023, and Jan 9-13 of this year, saw two of the highest recorded floods in Pawtuxet River history.

The town hall-style event, which drew approximately 60 homeowners and businesspeople, was cohosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA first got involved with the flood because of a disaster declaration approved by President Joe Biden on March 21, according to Bob Fogel, FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer.

SBA Public Affairs Specialist Tauheedah Mateen said that among other things, residents could get relief for both their homes, saying that SBA loans and grants were not only for business owners.

Because of the disaster declaration, residents of Providence, Kent and Washington counties all received a three-month extension on their tax-filing deadlines, with the new deadline set at July 15.

Other important deadlines for residents looking for relief to know are May 20, which is the deadline to file a claim for physical damages, and Dec. 23, the deadline to file for economic damages.

For those filing now, according to SBA Public Affairs Specialist Anita Steenson, filing with the SBA is an important step for anyone looking for relief.

“Most people are unaware of the fact that the SBA has disaster recovery resources for homeowners and renters in addition to our businesses and nonprofits,” Steenson said. “We understand with the name SBA it doesn’t alert people, but it’s so important because we are resource partners with FEMA, so for people to get the maximum granting from FEMA, they have to interact with the SBA.”

The SBA and FEMA work together to determine eligibility for grants and loans, according to Steenson and Mateen, and anyone looking for either will likely be directed to apply to the SBA first before trying with FEMA.

Available through the SBA are loans of up to $500,000 for homeowners and up to $100,000 for renters, which do not accrue interest over its first year. There are also $2 million loans available for affected businesses.

“It’s a good idea to come to us even if you don’t want a loan,” Mateen said. “You’re just leaving money on the table [if you don’t].”

Even if the SBA rejects anyone’s disaster relief, Steenson said that that person should then apply with FEMA to see if they can receive relief from them.

Following the town hall meeting, FEMA members set up individual booths in the annex’s lobby to help residents and business owners deal with their individual situations.

FEMA and SBA representatives said they believed Thursday’s event had a significant impact on reaching people who may be eligible for disaster aid.

“If even one person registers, we’ve done something,” said Armand Randolph, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency’s Assistant Director of Communications. “Hopefully good things are coming for everyone.”

FEMA and SBA representatives will also be at the Warwick Public Library from Thursday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.