Anne Arundel Tornado Victims Now Eligible For Grants, Not Just Loans, From State

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Victims of this summer's tornado in Anne Arundel County are now eligible for grants from the state government, officials announced Wednesday. Low-interest loans were previously the only relief available thorugh the state.

"These grants will have a profound impact on the ability of our Parole residents to be able to rebuild their homes and businesses and finally be able to restore some normalcy to their lives," Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said in a press release.

The grants will be supplied by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, also known as the DHCD. The application is posted at this link.

"I want to thank Governor [Larry] Hogan for listening and acting when we asked that residents and businesses impacted by the tornado be offered not only loans, but also grants, to assist their recovery," County Executive Steuart Pittman said in the release. "These grants, along with the assistance that our County departments have provided, will help those impacted as we continue to rebuild from the devastating impacts of the storm."

Tornado Aid

This is the latest round of relief for the twister victims.

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation sponsored the last round of support. That organization in November awarded $5,000 grants to four Annapolis businesses and one church damaged in the tornado.

The U.S. Small Business Administration in October announced low-interest loans and a support office to help Anne Arundel County residents with damaged property. This news came days after Gov. Larry Hogan asked the organization for assistance.

Hogan also unveiled a $4 million plan to aid locals hit by the storm. He released that initiative shortly after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected Maryland's request for a presidential disaster declaration and its associated relief.

RELATED: Tornado Can Shake Store, But Not Determination Of Business Owner

Twister Details

Anne Arundel County and Annapolis both declared states of emergency after a twister spawned from Tropical Depression Ida on Sept. 1. The states of emergency have since expired, but the damage still remains.

The EF-2 tornado reached wind speeds of 125 mph while traveling from Edgewater to Annapolis and causing 3,924 power outages. In the state capital, the twister temporarily displaced 38 residents and left:

• 5 buildings destroyed
• 25 condemned
• 29 with major damage
• 46 with minor damage

Victim Recovery

Fundraisers have collected thousands of dollars for affected businesses. A fall festival also supported three Edgewater families who lost their homes in the storm.

The Annapolis Town Center additionally hosted a benefit concert that raised more than $10,000 for the victims, WMAR journalist Abby Isaacs reported. To learn more about that charitable show, check out WMAR's full story.

RELATED:

• 4 Annapolis Businesses, 1 Church Get $5K To Recover From Tornado
• Fall Festival Fundraiser Will Help Edgewater Tornado Victims
• Grants Available For Anne Arundel Businesses Affected By Storms
• Ida Disaster Relief Office To Open In Anne Arundel After Tornado
• More Ida Relief Announced For MD Businesses, Residents
• Ida Tornado: Hogan Offers $4M In Aid To Residents, Businesses
• Federal Relief Money Denied After Anne Arundel Tornado: Report
• Concert For Tornado Victims Raises $10K
• Annapolis Tornado Leaves Businesses, Locals In Need Of Donations
• Tornado Can Shake Store, But Not Determination Of Business Owner
• Annapolis Tornado Town Hall To Help Residents Wednesday
• Tornado Wind Speeds Hit 125 MPH On Path To Annapolis, Edgewater
• Anne Arundel Tornado Cleanup Prompts State Of Emergency
• Annapolis Tornado: Dozens Of Homes, Commercial Buildings Damaged
• Tornado Damages Annapolis Businesses, South River Stadium

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