State Treasurer Clint Zweifel authorizes emergency 24-hour loan approvals for 12 counties affected by Leap Day Storms

JEFFERSON CITY - State Treasurer Clint Zweifel has authorized 12 counties to be added to the list of counties eligible for emergency 24-hour approvals of low-interest Missouri Linked Deposit Program loans in response to the February 29 Leap Day storms.

The emergency process is known as the Harmed-area Emergency Loan Priority system, or HELP. The counties added are Barry, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Dallas, Laclede, Madison, Phelps, Pulaski, Scott, Stoddard, Stone and Taney.

"The Leap Day storms have reminded all of us of the importance of working together to help communities affected by natural disasters," Treasurer Zweifel said. "It is still early in the storm season and we hope that we do not see any more damage or tragedy, but my team will be there when Missourians need help. In 2011, I approved more than $57 million in emergency loans impacting more than 1,700 jobs and farmers. I will continue to work with lenders in counties affected by these storms."

HELP eligible counties are determined by Treasurer Zweifel using executive orders, disaster requests, State Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Management Agency information and Agricultural Disaster Designations and Declarations. Normal loan approval time is 10 days.

To see a complete and up-to-date list of eligible counties visit www.treasurer.mo.gov/LinkedDeposit.

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