Governor Hochul Secures Physical Disaster Declaration from U.S. Small Business Administration for Homeowners, Renters and Businesses Impacted by July Flooding

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced she has secured a Physical Disaster Declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Columbia, Rensselaer and the contiguous counties of Albany, Saratoga, Washington, Dutchess, Greene and Ulster, following a flooding event from July 28 to July 29, 2026.

"New Yorkers deserve every dollar possible to help rebuild from these devastating floods, and we are happy to have secured this source of funding," Governor Hochul said. "This is the kind of support that will allow communities to get back on their feet and thrive as they did before the storm."

The following groups may be eligible for low-interest SBA disaster loans:

• Homeowners: up to $500,000 to repair their primary residence.
• Homeowners and renters: up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
• Business owners: up to $2,000,000 for the replacement of real property, inventories, machinery, equipment, and other physical losses.
• Businesses and non-profits: Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2,000,000 to provide necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Terry O'Leary said, "In late July, historic rainfall impacted communities throughout the Capital Region. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, as well as the partnership of the SBA and emergency managers across the Capital Region, home and business owners throughout the region will now be able to access critical funding to support their recovery."

Senator Charles Schumer said, "The record-setting rainfall that battered communities across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region in July resulted in major flash flooding and widespread damage. This is a critical step on the road to recovery from this devastating storm for homeowners and small businesses. I'll always fight to deliver federal assistance to help Upstate New York communities recover and rebuild stronger in the wake of natural disasters."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Increased flooding has taken a heavy toll on New York's families and local economies. Securing these federal funds ensures our communities can not only rebuild today, but invest in the resilience needed to withstand future storms."

Representative Paul D. Tonko said, "I witnessed firsthand how these July storms devastated homes and businesses in the Capital Region and pledged to work alongside Governor Hochul and Commissioner O'Leary to secure this relief. Thanks to our advocacy, homeowners and small businesses in the region will now have access to low-interest SBA loans to help start the recovery process. My office stands ready to help any homeowner or small business who needs guidance in helping to secure this assistance."

Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal or at other locally announced locations. Please contact the SBA's Customer Service Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-659-2955 for further assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. The application deadline for physical loans is November 23, 2026, and the application for economic injury loans is June 24, 2027.

SBA loans can help eligible parties that need financial assistance to get on the road to recovery following weather-related disasters and other emergencies.

About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism, natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on X, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

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