WASHINGTON >> Small Business Administration officials warned Tuesday that the agency would “very soon” exhaust its funding for new disaster loans for homeowners and businesses in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

The agency has less than $100 million for new disaster loans, according to the officials, and will continue to process incoming loan applications after the money runs out, but Congress will have to approve additional funding for it to make new loan offers and cut checks.

The issue comes at a precarious time for the country. Federal and state officials are preparing for Hurricane Milton, the strongest storm in the Gulf of Mexico since 2005, to make landfall in Florida late Wednesday or early Thursday. Officials are also still responding to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene in several Southeastern states.

— The New York Times