WASHINGTON -- Acknowledging that it was "overwhelmed" by theaftermath of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, the Small BusinessAdministration said it's ready this time after a majorrestructuring of its disaster assistance program.

Its Disaster Credit Management System can now handle 8,000simultaneous users, four times the processing capability since2005's hurricanes. The agency says it can also now draw from a poolof 3,000 experienced individuals who can quickly staff up disasteroffices with approximately 900 of these individuals having signedup as reservists and are available to report with 48 hours notice.Fifteen-person integrated teams now oversee the disbursementprocess workflow where each function is represented, with authorityand competency to make decisions, ensure accountability, and managefor results, according to SBA. Non-disaster staff can now bedeployed to surge scenarios to handle loan demand.

The SBA said of the $6.9 billion in approved loans requested byborrowers a net $5.1 billion has been fully disbursed in the Gulf,and $.5 billion has been partially disbursed. Approximately $1.3billion in additional commitments are available. Of 160,000applicants with approved loans from the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes,99% have now either received all or some of their loan money, orhave chosen not to proceed with their loans.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recentlyreleased its prediction that the upcoming 2007 hurricane seasonwill have above average activity.

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