The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers affordable financial help to homeowners and renters in a declared disaster area. You don’t need to own a business. Help is available in the form of low-interest, long-term loans for losses not fully covered by insurance or other means.

You may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace your primary home to its pre-disaster condition. But you can’t use the loan to upgrade or add on to the home, unless required by building authority or code.

In some cases, SBA may be able to refinance all or part of a previous mortgage (not to exceed $200,000) if you:

• Can’t get credit elsewhere,
• Have heavy disaster damage not covered by insurance, and
• Intend to repair the damage.

SBA considers refinancing when processing each application. They may also be able to increase the loan up to 20 percent of the confirmed physical losses (not to exceed $200,000). You could use the increase to help protect your property from future disasters of the same kind.

Second homes or vacation properties are not eligible. Qualified rental properties may be eligible for assistance under the business disaster loan program.

You may be able to borrow up to $40,000 to replace damaged or destroyed personal property, like:

• Clothing
• Furniture
• Appliances
• Cars, or
• Other personal property that is not real estate or part of the actual structure.

You may not use the loan to replace extremely expensive or irreplaceable items, like:

• Antiques
• Collections
• Pleasure boats
• Recreational vehicles

To qualify for SBA disaster assistance, you must have physical damage to your primary home in a declared county.

You may apply for a disaster loan at any time with SBA’s online Disaster Loan Application. Or you may mail your application to:

Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76155

You may also apply in person at any FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to get one-on-one help from an SBA rep.

To find a center near you or for help to apply by mail, contact our Customer Service Center using the Program Contact Information below.

Homeowners and renters must first apply with FEMA.

Apply online:

• DisasterAssistance.gov

Or by phone:

• 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
• TTY 1-800-462-7585
• 711 or VRS 1-800-621-3362