[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15181-S15182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SBA ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING HURRICANE ISABEL

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I wish to call to the attention of my 
colleagues the well-coordinated and rapid response of the good people 
from the United States Small Business Administration in the days and 
weeks that have followed the disaster caused by Hurricane Isabel.
  Virginia is still recovering from this terrible natural disaster. In 
Virginia, initial assessments indicate that 1,062 homes were destroyed; 
over 8,800 homes sustained major damage; 1.8 million customers lost 
electricity of varying duration from a day to over a week; there were 
28 deaths in the Commonwealth; crop losses are in the tens of millions; 
and total damages are in the billions to homes, businesses, 
transportation and other infrastructure facilities.
  Our Commonwealth was devastated and the residents of Virginia, as 
they always do, have come together to help neighbors repair damages, to 
help families find housing and to console those who lost loved ones in 
their time of grief.
  Soon after the storm cut across Virginia, and the economic impact 
began to be felt, I contacted Small Business Administration leaders, 
seeking to bring direct assistance to these affected businesses. On 
September 22, SBA representatives responded quickly. My colleague, John 
Warner, and I toured the significant damage to many flooded small 
businesses in Old Town Alexandria, VA.
  The quick response, expertise and enthusiasm of the SBA leaders gave 
hope to small business owners who were upset at the great losses and 
burdened by damage to their infrastructure, uncertainty when to reopen, 
loss of inventory, very little capital and lost incomes. The people saw 
that there was help, that it was not just their own sweat, worry and 
furrowed brows, but that the SBA was there to assist them directly.
  Herb Mitchell, associate administrator for the Office of Disaster 
Assistance at the SBA, Anthony Bedell, associate administrator for the 
Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Sue Hensley, associate 
administrator for the Office of Communications and Public Liaison and 
their leader Melanie Sabelhaus, Deputy Administrator for the SBA walked 
with us while we viewed the damage first hand, talking with business 
owners who were able to ask specific questions and receive answers and 
solutions.
  On the spot, Melanie Sabelhaus of the SBA also set up an onsite 
Business Disaster Recovery Center with the local Chamber of Commerce in 
Old Town Alexandria to help business owners who suffered loss. Our top 
priority was to get small businesses dried out, disinfected and back in 
business, and I am proud that this team effort has proceeded 
successfully. By getting our boots in the mud, we were able to get a 
direct, human response to promptly assist distressed small business 
owners, who are the backbone of the American economy.
  Later the same week they answered my call and came with me again to 
southeastern Virginia, to places such as Burwell's Bay in Isle of Wight 
County, Suffolk and Wakefield in Sussex County. There we witnessed the 
terrible devastation. People there not only experienced great trauma, 
difficulty and loss, they were still without power, looking to the SBA 
for assistance, which was able to provide human, personal attention to 
help get them up and running again. Small businesses such as Cameron 
Chemical and the Marina Restaurant, whose owners we were able to talk 
with, which were forced to close their businesses indefinitely, and 
which together employ dozens of hard-working Virginians were given 
hands-on assistance by the SBA to reopen in a timely manner. Low 
interest loans, business disruption assistance from the SBA visibly 
cheered their faces with hope and gratitude. Traveling with me again 
was Melanie Sabelhaus, along with Anne Bradbury, assistant 
administrator for congressional affairs and Becky Brantley, assistant 
administrator for disaster assistance.
  I commend the Small Business Administration's leadership, under the 
direction of Administrator Hector

[[Page S15182]]

Barreto, Jr., and the entire team at the SBA. They responded to each of 
my requests and demonstrated knowledge, experience and genuine care by 
helping small businesses get clean, dry, rebuilt and open again for 
customers and employees. Their enthusiastic outreach truly gave hope to 
many owners and employees. And, as a U.S. Senator, one can often try to 
get Federal agencies to help people. From my perspective, the Small 
Business Administration is demonstrably one of the very best lead teams 
in the Federal Government. On behalf of Virginians, I thank them for 
their special care. Many small entrepreneurs are open for business due 
to our efforts. It is a satisfying job well done.

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