The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved Gov. Josh Shapiro’s request to make low-interest loans available to individuals and families affected by the July 11, 2026, severe storms and flash flooding in Philadelphia County, and the surrounding counties of Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery. Those impacted by severe storms on July 4, 2026, in Monroe County and the surrounding counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northampton, Pike, and Wayne can also apply.
“Small businesses and non-profits are the backbone of many Pennsylvania communities,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “Pennsylvania worked with the federal government to quickly open up access to low-interest loans to help businesses and other eligible organizations that experienced adverse financial impact due to loss of income, such as those that were closed and unable to operate for multiple days because of prolonged power outages as a result of the storms.”
Additionally, Pennsylvania has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) for certain areas of Philadelphia County through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), which provides grants to individuals and families affected by the July 11, 2026, severe storms and flash flooding who live in the City of Philadelphia. To be eligible for the DRAP grants, individuals and families need to meet certain income requirements, have incurred damage from the storms which was reported to the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, and have those damages verified by an appropriate entity.
“The severe storms and flash flooding on July 11 caused significant damage for many families and businesses in Philadelphia, and we want those affected to know help is available,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield.
The SBA’s Disaster Loan Program provides low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, private non-profit organizations, and businesses who sustained physical damages from flooding. The SBA can provide up to $500,000 for homeowners to replace or repair their primary residences and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property. Businesses and most private non-profit organizations may apply for up to $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.
The SBA determines eligibility based on the applicant’s size, type of business activity, and financial resources. Physical damage to property is not required to qualify for an EIDL. Loan amounts and terms are determined by the SBA based on each applicant’s financial condition, with repayment terms of up to 30 years to help keep payments affordable. Additional information about the SBA’s EIDL disaster declaration, including access to the online loan application, is available on the SBA’s website.
