RACINE COUNTY - Officials worry residents might miss out on flood-related assistance by turning in loan applications too late or not at all.

The Small Business Administration has mailed loan applications to residents who applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance.

"People should look at that application as a gateway to further assistance," said SBA Communication Specialist Carl Sherrill. "We've been able to make a loan or referral for further assistance for 98 percent of people that send the application back in."

Statewide, as of Monday only 15 percent of homeowners or renters and 8 percent of business owners had returned their SBA loan applications. The SBA issued 27,713 applications and only has 4,101 back, Sherrill said.

"It is unusual to have this return rate. Our typical rate is between 30 to 40 percent," he said. "I don't know whether it's a Midwest attitude that 'I don't deserve more help. I'll take care of this myself,' or a misunderstanding that 'I'm a homeowner. I've registered with FEMA and I think I'm not a business and I toss it in the trash.' Or another attitude you run into is 'I don't want another loan.' But if they're not able to pay a loan, we refer them to FEMA."

A SBA referral to FEMA means residents have access to other assistance like grants and help from volunteer organizations. Those below the poverty line are immediately fast-tracked to receive FEMA assistance, Sherrill said.

To receive assistance, home or business owners or renters must register with FEMA by calling (800) 621-FEMA, or filling out an application online at http://www.fema.gov. Residents will then receive an SBA loan application in the mail. They can return the completed application to SBA by mail. Within six to 10 days, a SBA representative will call them to let them know the outcome of their application, Sherrill said.

In Racine County, 423 SBA disaster loan applications were sent out by Sunday, and so far $391,200 has been approved in loan money. The average home loan is about $22,000 and the average business loan is about $54,000, Sherrill said.

Applications to both the SBA and FEMA must be postmarked by Sept. 15.