By JOHN BREAUX

Much of our state was ravaged recently by two of the most powerful storms in Louisiana history. Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili damaged hundreds of homes and businesses throughout the state both structurally and economically. Although Hurricane Lili was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit coastal cities, our homes, schools, businesses and infrastructure did not go unscathed.

In the aftermath of these natural disasters, our federal, state and local governments have worked together to provide assistance to those whose homes and businesses were hit the hardest. Following President Bush’s declaration of Louisiana as a Federal Disaster Area, the Small Business Association has made loans available for those whose homes and businesses were most badly damaged by the storms.

The SBA recommends that anyone whose home or business has suffered disaster damage apply for loans to cover their real estate, personal belongings and business property losses as soon as possible. The terms for these loans in the wake of Hurricane Lili and Tropical Storm Isidore are as follows:

Hurricane Lili

Homeowners, renters and businesses in 28 Louisiana parishes are eligible to apply for loans to cover physical damages resulting from Hurricane Lili that began Oct. 1. Applicants can call FEMA’s toll-free number 1-800-621-3362 where they will be referred to the SBA. Small businesses in declared and adjacent parishes are eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans.

The declared parishes eligible for disaster relief loans include: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Vermilion parishes.

The adjacent parishes eligible for economic injury disaster loans only include: Allen, Catahoula, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, La Salle, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, Vernon, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

Tropical Storm Isidore

Low-interest, long-term disaster recovery loans are available for victims of damages resulting from Tropical Storm Isidore that began Sept. 21. Homeowners, renters and businesses in 12 parishes are eligible to apply for these loans to cover physical damages to property caused by the storm. Applicants can call FEMA’s toll-free number, 1-800-621-3362, where they will be referred to the SBA.

The declared parishes eligible for disaster relief loans include: Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Terrebonne.

The adjacent parishes eligible for economic injury disaster loans only include: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Lafayette, St. Helena, St. James, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion and Washington.

I commend the families and businesses throughout Louisiana that have come together in the wake of these storms to regroup and rebuild their communities. With the help of federal relief, parishes most damaged by these natural disasters can continue to repair and return to normalcy. I urge home and business owners in these damaged areas to learn more about the resources available to them by contacting the Small Business Association at 1-800-U-ASK-SBA or by visiting their website at www.sba.gov.

JOHN BREAUX represents Louisiana in the United States Senate.