Business Resources During Flooding & Natural Disasters (This page will feature updates)

9 Dec 2025

United States Small Business Administration Declaration: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Washington Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by 2025 Severe Winter Storms

Low interest disaster loans now available

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Washington businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from the 2025 Severe Winter Storms occurring Dec. 5-22, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Bob Ferguson.

The declaration covers the Washington counties of Chelan, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom and Yakima.

Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may 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 are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations including faith-based organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.875% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

“Through an agency declaration, SBA provides financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We offer disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits affected by the disaster.

As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster 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 deadline to return physical damage applications is April 27. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 24.

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Auburn, Chehalis, Fall City, Sedro-Woolley, Snohomish and Sumas to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

The Snohomish County center's hours of operation are as follows:

SNOHOMISH COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Snohomish Library
Big Study Room
311 Maple Ave.
Snohomish, WA 98290

Opens at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 26
Mondays - Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fridays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Beginning Saturday, March 7,
Saturdays, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Update, 12:47 PST, Dec. 12, 2025:

Recovery Resources:

Snohomish County Public Safety Hub

The County will provide up to date information here on when evacuation orders are eased, and how to apply for disaster loans, if those become available.

When addressing flooding in your business there are key actions you can take to assist in a smooth recovery. The urge to move quickly to the clean up phase may work against you when filing an insurance claim or pursuing disaster assistance if you don’t have adequate damage documentation.

Take care to first inspect your property for immediate dangers like animals that may have come in with the floodwaters.
When inspecting your property, make sure to avoid all areas with flooded electrical circuits and submerged power lines or electrical appliances until the power has been cut.
Listen and watch for leaking gas lines, electrical lines or flammable materials in the water such as gas.
Mark dangerous areas with caution tape until more thorough safety assessments can be made.
Inside structures, use a flashlight to locate damage to walls, doors, floors, and windows and take lots of pictures before you begin any clean up or repairs! Your photos will document your claims for assistance and strengthen your case.
Food establishments that experienced flooding will require an inspection to reopen. They should contact the Snohomish County Health Department by calling 425-359-8730 or by e-mailing food.safety@snoco.org.

"After the Flood" Guide From The Hartford

Click here to access this downloadable PDF

U.S. Small Business Administration

Click here to access the SBA website: Recover from Disasters guidance

Preparedness Resources

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

10 Things Small Business Owners Can Do to Better Prepare

AJG United States

Flood Preparedness Guide for Businesses

Update, Dec. 10, 2025

Immediate Emergency Response & Safety

FEMA – Disaster Assistance

https://www.disasterassistance.gov
Financial and direct support after federally declared disasters.

Ready.gov – Business Emergency Preparedness

https://www.ready.gov/business
Continuity planning, flood guides, and emergency templates.

American Red Cross – Disaster Relief

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services.html
Shelters, cleanup kits, and volunteer assistance.

Snohomish County & Local Resources

Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management (DEM)

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/180/Emergency-Management
Flood alerts, sandbag stations, road closures, evacuation information.

Snohomish County Flood Information Center

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/796/Flood-Information-Center

Snohomish County PUD – Outages & Restoration

https://www.snopud.com/outages/
Power restoration updates, electrical safety guidance post-flood.

Business Continuity & Preparedness Tools

Workforce & Employee Support

Workforce Snohomish – Rapid Response

https://www.workforcesnohomish.org
Layoff aversion, worker resources, and employer support.

Washington ESD

https://esd.wa.gov
Worker income support, employer reporting flexibility, and business continuity tools.

Federal Support

U.S. SBA Disaster Loan Program

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
Loans for physical damage, working capital (EIDL), equipment, inventory, and property losses.

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

https://www.eda.gov/strategic-initiatives/disaster-recovery
Disaster supplemental grants for infrastructure and regional economic recovery.

HUD CDBG–Disaster Recovery

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/cdbg-dr
Long-term rebuilding support for communities and small businesses.

USDA Disaster & Flood Resources

USDA provides some of the most significant federal support for farms, ranches, rural businesses, and rural communities affected by flooding.

USDA Disaster Assistance Programs (Farm Service Agency)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/disaster-assistance-programs
Overview of all USDA disaster programs: crops, livestock, infrastructure, and economic injury.

Emergency Farm Loans (Low-Interest)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/emergency-farm-loans
For farms and ranches in federally declared disaster areas needing capital to recover from flood damage.

Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp
Assistance for crop, revenue, and production losses caused by natural disasters (including flooding).

Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-livestock-relief-program-elrp
Relief for livestock producers impacted by floods (feed losses, grazing impacts, etc.).

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance-related-information
Aid for producers of non-insurable crops suffering flood-related losses.

USDA Rural Development – Rural Disaster Assistance

https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/rural-development-disaster-assistance
Support for rural small businesses, infrastructure, utilities, housing, and long-term community recovery.

Farmers.gov Flood Resource Center

https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/flood
Guidance on documenting losses, emergency actions, cleanup, and navigating USDA aid.

State of Washington Resources

Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD)

https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division
Flood alerts, hazard mitigation, and statewide disaster response.

Washington State Department of Commerce

https://www.commerce.wa.gov
Resiliency resources, technical assistance, and program support that may activate during disasters.

Washington Department of Revenue

https://dor.wa.gov
Disaster-related tax filing extensions, penalty waivers, and support for lost business records.

Employment Security Department (ESD)

SharedWork: https://esd.wa.gov/sharedwork

Unemployment & DUA (when activated): https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment
Helps businesses retain workers and provides income support during closures.

Infrastructure, Utilities & Environmental Cleanup

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Emergency Operations

https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/
Engineering support for levees, flood mitigation, and structural assessments.

EPA Flood Response Resources

https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/flooding
Hazardous waste cleanup, water contamination, and environmental health guidance.