COATESVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- Gov. Ed Rendell is trying to get federal disaster assistance for an arson-plagued area of southeastern Pennsylvania.
Rendell is seeking a federal disaster declaration for Coatesville and Chester County. The area 35 miles west of Philadelphia has been hit with more than sixty arsons in the last year.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency says the damage well exceeds Small Business Administration criteria of at least 25 homes or businesses with uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of their estimated value.
If the SBA declares a disaster area it could make low interest loans available to help with recovery. Qualified renters and homeowners could get loans of up to $40,000 for replacement of lost possessions. Eligible homeowners could get up to $200,000 in repair and replacement loans.
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