Wednesday, Dec. 14 marks the deadline for homeowners and small business owners to apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to storms earlier this year.

Aid can be in the form of FEMA grants or low-interest loans, and can be used to repair physical damage done by Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee. New applications will not be accepted after the deadline. The deadline was extended 30 days in November to provide residents with the maximum opportunity to apply.

According to FEMA spokesperson Don North, 15,414 households in Philadelphia County collected $27.6 million in federal assistance due to losses sustained from the storms.

The maximum FEMA grant per individual is $30,200. Federal and state assistance total $129 million in individual assistance grants for renters and homeowners who suffered losses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved almost $14 million in low-interest loans.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Applicants who registered with FEMA and received an SBA loan application have until the December 14 deadline to complete and return it to be eligible for assistance.

To register for FEMA assistance, call 1 (800) 621-3362.