ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Business owners in Rocky Mount are looking to turn the page after a powerful tornado hit in late September. 

The city, roughly an hour’s drive from Raleigh, will host federal workers to help residents affected by Hurricane Helene navigate the application process for financial relief.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Small Business Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will be in Rocky Mount on Thursday and Friday to offer disaster relief after a powerful tornado struck Sept. 27

  • The SBA ran out of relief money last month but encourages storm survivors to fill out application in anticipation that Congress will restore funding 

  • Noell Purvis' business was damaged by water leaking into the lights and warping the floor, and she is eager to get things back to normal 

Nash County Emergency Management Director Trip Bunn confirmed the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be at the Black Box Theatre at the Imperial Centre on Thursday and Friday.

“At the event, business and property owners who were affected by the tornado can receive assistance and support from FEMA and SBA," Bunn said in an email. "This will also include assistance for employees of affected businesses and citizens who have vehicle damage caused by the tornado.”

Bunn said the Nash County EMA team will “hope to offer further assistance in the coming weeks” but didn’t elaborate.

The catch is that top officials from the U.S. SBA announced in mid-October that funding dried up on disaster relief loans. Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said the agency offered 700 Helene loans totaling about $48 million. Because of the money provided to other Helene survivors, the SBA will not approve more funding until Congress reconvenes this month.

“While we await Congress to provide much-needed funding, we strongly encourage eligible businesses and households to apply for SBA disaster loans,” Guzman said.

Nash County received a federal emergency declaration status because of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 15. The storm spawned an EF3 tornado Sept. 27 that swept through with winds up to 140 mph, injuring 15, destroying buildings and tossing vehicles along its quarter-mile path. 

Multiple businesses near the Tiffany Square Shopping Mall remain damaged more than a month later. Some employees are still without work.

For business owner Noell Purvis, faith fuels her desire to find solutions for the water damage to her New Image Hair Studio.

“I just keep trust in God that he is going to supply my needs, and thus far he has,” Purvis said.

The hair restoration specialist said water leaked into the fluorescent ceiling lighting in one room and warped flooring in another.

Errol Warren Jr. owns the architectural space above Purvis. He said his office had thousands of dollars in water damage. Warren said the roofing and front lobby interior will need extensive repairs. 

Purvis said his issues partly became her issues when days of rainfall followed the tornado.

“I have other ladies working in there with me, and for them to be in their space and it's not the way it was before the tornado is a little uncomfortable,” Purvis said.

Purvis said an insurance claim is filed for the damage and estimates the tornado caused several thousands of dollars in repairs. “(I want to) get the shop back to the way it was before the disaster came,” Purvis said.

To apply for SBA disaster-relief loans, click here.

Both federal agencies will work out of the Black Box Theatre at the Imperial Center from 10 a.m. 6 p.m.