Disaster declared for six Nebraska counties following June storms, offering low-interest loans

by Zach Wendling

The U.S. Small Business Administration this week approved a disaster declaration for six central Nebraska counties following late June storms and opened eligibility for certain low-interest loans.

The declaration covers the counties of Adams, Buffalo, Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick in response to severe storms and flooding that occurred June 25-26. Gov. Jim Pillen requested the disaster declaration on Thursday. He expressed his gratitude Tuesday that the agency recognized the storm’s “extreme damage.”

“This disaster declaration will help businesses and homeowners in the affected communities get the assistance they need to get back on their feet,” Pillen said in a statement.

Businesses and nonprofits can apply for business physical disaster loans and borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters can apply for home and personal property loans and borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, including clothing, furniture, cars and appliances. Homeowners can additionally apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Some applicants may be eligible for a loan increase up to 20% of physical damage, as verified by the Small Business Administration, “for mitigation purposes.” That includes insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows and installing storm windows.

The Small Business Administration’s separate Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is open for eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofits. Most agricultural producers are ineligible.

The economic injury loans are for “working capital needs” caused by the disaster, such as to cover debts, payroll or other bills, even if a business or nonprofit didn’t suffer physical damage.

Loan amounts and terms will be set on each applicant’s financial condition. The first payment would not be due until one year after the first loan disbursement, and interest would not accrue until after the first year either. Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits and 2.813% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years.

The deadline to return physical damage applications is Sept. 26. The deadline for economic injury applications is April 28, 2026.

Applications can be submitted online at sba.gov/disaster, and applicants can call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email them at [email protected].

Beginning Wednesday at noon, federal customer service representatives will be available in person at a Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Grand Island, 1210 N. North Road, to help answer questions about the disaster loan program and assist with applications. 

The location is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those wishing to visit the center are encouraged to schedule an appointment at appointment.sba.gov, but walk-ins are accepted.

“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, said in a statement. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”

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