Residents affected by the severe winter storms, which caused massive flooding across Sacramento County from December 27, 2022, to January 31, 2023, may be eligible to register for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to apply for a disaster assistance loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The deadline for both FEMA and SBA is Thursday, March 16, 2023.
To register for FEMA disaster assistance:
- Call 800-621-3362 (7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily)
- Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov
- Or download the FEMA mobile app
- For an accessible video on how to apply
Here is what you'll need when you contact FEMA:
- Social Security number
- Current phone number
- Address of the damaged home (including ZIP code)
- Description of the damage
- Current address where you get mail or email
- Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit of funds
- If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
- Learn more at fema.gov
- If you are unable to locate important documentation, FEMA will help you identify other ways to verify your information.
FEMA also encourages survivors to apply for a disaster loan from the SBA, the federal government's main source of disaster funding for long-term rebuilding. Not everyone will be eligible for an SBA loan or will want one, but the process opens other avenues to FEMA funds that finance additional needs such as medical/dental needs and transportation.
Homeowners and renters
Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $200,000 for primary residence structural repairs or rebuilding. SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $40,000 to replace important personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster. In addition, you may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of the physical damage to make your home safer. Eligible work could include building retaining walls, elevating or retrofitting the flood-prone structure, or relocating utilities to protect against future damage.
Businesses and nonprofits organizations
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.
The SBA deadline to apply for property damage is March 16, 2023. The deadline to apply for economic injury is October 16, 2023.
To apply for SBA disaster assistance call 800-659-2955
SBA has opened a Business Recovery Center in Sacramento County to assist business owners with their loan applications. Homeowners and renters may also visit the centers. No appointment is necessary at:
Sacramento County
Business Recovery Center
The Hub
9072 Elk Grove Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.