SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to WA Residents, Businesses Impacted by December Storms

Low-interest loans available to cover physical damage and economic losses from severe winter storms.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to Washington businesses, private nonprofits and residents affected by severe winter storms that hit the state between Dec. 5 and Dec. 22, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration after a request from Gov. Bob Ferguson, making financial assistance available to those recovering from physical damage and economic losses tied to the storms.

Why it matters

The December 2025 storms brought widespread flooding, landslides and power outages across Washington state, damaging nearly 4,000 homes and forcing over 100,000 people to evacuate. The SBA disaster assistance provides a critical lifeline for businesses, nonprofits and residents to recover and rebuild.

The details

Eligible applicants in 20 affected counties can apply for loans to cover physical damage and economic losses, with interest rates as low as 2.875%. Businesses and private nonprofits can apply for up to $2 million in business physical disaster loans, while homeowners and renters can borrow up to $100,000 for personal property and up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs. The SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is also available to help small businesses, cooperatives, nurseries and nonprofits with working capital needs.

  • The storms occurred between December 5-22, 2025.
  • The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is April 27, 2026.
  • The deadline to apply for economic injury loans is November 24, 2026.

The players

Bob Ferguson

The governor of Washington state who requested the SBA disaster declaration.

Chris Stallings

The associate administrator of the SBA's Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Through an agency declaration, SBA provides financial assistance to help communities recover. We offer disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits affected by the disaster.”

— Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, SBA

What’s next

The SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to applicants at Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers once those locations open in affected areas. Information about recovery center locations will be available through the SBA Customer Service Center.

The takeaway

The SBA's disaster assistance offers a critical lifeline for Washington residents, businesses and nonprofits impacted by the severe winter storms, providing low-interest loans to help cover physical damage and economic losses as the state works to recover and rebuild.