The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened low-interest federal disaster loans for small businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners, and renters affected by severe storms and flooding on September 3 in Western New York. The SBA issued the disaster declaration in response to a request received October 16 from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and the availability of the loans was announced on October 21–22. Two kinds of help matter here: repair loans and economic-injury loans.
Which counties are covered
The declaration covers six New York counties — Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Wyoming — for both physical damage loans and economic injury disaster loans. Erie County is where most of the flooding occurred, and the surrounding counties are included as contiguous counties. A business or nonprofit outside those counties does not qualify under this declaration, even if it was affected by other weather events.
What businesses and nonprofits can borrow
Businesses and private nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million in business physical disaster loans to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Separately, economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million are available for working capital until normal operations resume. The SBA determines eligibility, amounts, and terms based on each applicant's financial condition.
What homeowners and renters can borrow
Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence, and homeowners and renters may apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace personal property such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. These are loans, not grants: they must be repaid, and the SBA sets the terms for each applicant. Anyone considering a disaster loan should weigh the repayment obligation against the cost of repairs, rather than treating the loan as free assistance.
Deadlines that should not be missed
The deadline for physical damage loan applications is December 18, 2026. The deadline for economic injury loan applications is July 19, 2027 — a much longer window, because economic losses can take months to become clear. Missing the December deadline for physical damage is the more immediate risk: a business that waits until next year to document flood damage may find the physical-damage window already closed, even though the economic-injury window is still open.
How to apply, and where to get help
- Apply online through the MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov, or at locally announced locations.
- Call the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 for assistance with an application.
- Email [email protected] with questions about the disaster program.
- Relay service: people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 7-1-1.
- Document the damage. Photographs, repair estimates, and records of lost revenue make both the physical-damage and economic-injury applications easier to evaluate.
If the September 3 flooding affected your business, first confirm the county and the deadline — before spending time on an application outside either one.