Governor Hochul Announces U.S Small Business Administration to Offer Federal Assistance to Long Island Residents and Businesses Impacted by Early January Severe Weather

U.S. Small Business Administration to Provide Low-Interest Loans to Eligible Residents and Businesses in Suffolk and Nassau Counties Affected by Heavy Rain and High Winds from January 9-10, 2024

In-Person Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to Open on March 15

Loan Applications Available Online

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the U.S. Small Business Administration will offer federal assistance to New Yorkers on Long Island who were impacted by severe storms containing heavy rain and high winds from January 9-10, 2024. Residents and businesses in Suffolk and Nassau counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest loans to aid in their recovery from the devastating rain event.

“New Yorkers and their businesses should not have to carry the burden of storm recovery alone, and these loans will go a long way in helping those impacted build back better and stronger,” Governor Hochul said. “Long Islanders impacted by January’s winds should be sure to apply and take advantage of the additional financial support. Thank you to the SBA for ensuring New Yorkers have the resources to recover from severe weather events.”

Between January 9-10, 2024 a statewide multi-hazard weather event crossed much of NY State, resulting in significant damage to businesses and homes. The event dropped up to 3.5 inches of rainfall on Long Island and coincided with high tide causing severe flooding. On January 8, Governor Hochul announced she activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Albany to monitor the storm and coordinate State response activities. During the storm, both Suffolk and Nassau counties issued States of Emergency for their respective locations due to severe weather conditions and impacts. Following the event, personnel from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), the Small Business Administration and Suffolk County conducted a thorough assessment of damages.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. Applicants, including businesses, homeowners, renters, and private, nonprofit organizations, must be in a declared disaster area and meet other eligibility criteria depending on the type of loan.

Disaster Loan Types

The following disaster loans are available:

• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster.
• Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

The SBA is establishing Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to help New Yorkers apply in-person for assistance. Both centers will open on Friday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m. See below for both centers’ hours of operations after March 15.

Babylon Town Hall, 200 Sunrise Hwy, Lindenhurst, NY 11757

• Opens Friday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m.
• Hours of Operation (after Mar. 15):
  • Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Mastic Recreation Center, 15 Herkimer Street, Mastic, NY 11950

• Opens Friday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m.
• Hours of Operation (after Mar. 15):
  • Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Closed Sunday.

Both centers are scheduled to close on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 10, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is December 11, 2024.