Here is some potentially good news for victims of the fire at Windermere Court Apartments.

Governor Tom Corbett has called upon the Small Business Administration to declare Philadelphia a disaster area so that low-interest loans can be made available to victims.

“The apartment building was home to students, families and retirees who now have nothing left. In order to help these victims recover from this disaster, I have asked the federal Small Business Administration to make low-interest disaster loans available to help replace lost and damaged property,” Corbett said in a statement issued yesterday. “I urge the SBA to take prompt action on this request.”

If Corbett’s request is granted, the SBA would make low interest, long-term loans available of up to $40,000 to replace personal property. The loans are based on each applicant’s financial qualifications.

The question that will likely arise for many made homeless by the fire is their status on the lease. We had heard that some residents were not listed on leases and we are still trying to figure out how that would affect their eligibility for a loan or other aid.

This is from Kate Krauss. Her friend Maureen’s cat is still missing from the Windermere Court Apartments fire. Here’s a flyer (click to enlarge):

Update: Local 44 can’t handle any more donations. They need shoppers. Tell everyone and anyone you know who lived at Windermere to get over there now. The folks at Local 44 had to rent a U-haul already to store the stuff they inevitably will have left over.

Update: Craig wrote about another collection at IsShoes, Alice Burbage’s women’s boutique, at 120 s. 61st St. The store is collecting from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. today. Call for other times to 215-471-5555.

We know of two clothing drives for the victims of the Jan. 10 fire at Windermere Court Apartments in West Philadelphia.

Local 44 (44th and Spruce) will set up tables along Spruce Street outside of the pub to collect clothing donations from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Try to bring things that would be useful to folks now. So winter clothes would be best. Fire victims should stop by to get what they need.

A reader, Natalie, tipped us off to the clothing drive at Drexel’s Alpha Pi Lambda (33rd and Powelton). They are accepting cold weather clothing for fire victims from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The organization will accept donations of gently used hats, gloves, scarves, jackets and blankets at its house at 33rd and Powelton. Those who cannot give clothing can donate cash, which will be used to buy clothes for the drive. Those displaced by the fire who need clothing should stop by.

This is from Linda Lee concerning cats spotted near the Windermere Court Apartments over the weekend, nearly a week since the fire there.

I actually just got a text from one of the Philly officers who saw a
cat this evening on the 48th st side of the building (in the area
behind Windermere Courts). He thinks it had a collar on and gave the
following description: a small multi color grey cat with short hair
and 2 back white legs and a small white tip on the tail. The cat kept
coming out of the basement of the building for food. He was going to
try to catch it, but hasn’t had any luck…

Here are photos of two cats that have been spotted. Leave a comment if you know anything about these two and we’ll pass along the info:

From Lina: “I’m trying to find my cat, Deuce, who was in the fire at 48th and Walnut this Monday, 1/10/11. The firemen found his brother, but there was no sign of Deuce. We are hoping he escaped the building and may be trying to fend for himself. He is a medium orange tabby. He is up to date with all his shots, but has no collar on, as he has never been outside before. He is neutered, likes to play with string, suckle on fleece like material, and recently had his nails clipped because they were getting long. If you see him, please call me at 518.428.9907. It would mean the world to his brother and me to have him back after this terrible fire. I have also attached a picture. ”
Thank you all so much,
Lina

Here’s a story from NBC 10 on the tireless work by City Kitties, a West Philadelphia based feline rescue organization, to help cats lost and found from the Jan. 10 Windermere Court Apartments fire. The organization has a list of recovered and missing cats, including photos when possible, on its website here. Well over 100 people were made homeless from the fire at 48th and Walnut Streets.