Disaster Assistance Available

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved a disaster declaration for the severe storms and flooding that impacted six counties in northeastern Illinois from August 2025. This declaration will allow homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations to apply for low-interest loans to help cover damages not covered by insurance.​ 

 

If you are located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for financial assistance.  Counties included in the declaration are: Will, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake (IL), McHenry, and Lake (IN).

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Who can apply?

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• Businesses

• Homeowners

• Renters

• private non-profit organizations

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How do I apply?

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• Online

  • Direct Link: ​lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=IL-20019

  • sba.gov/disaster

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• Phone

  • 800-659-2955 from 7 AM – 7 PM Monday through Friday.

  • If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

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• In person

  • State of Illinois SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC)

    • All impacted residents, regardless of where they live can go to any Disaster Loan Outreach Center site. 

    • Each location will have a Spanish translator available.​

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What Types of 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. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

•Home Disaster Loans – Homeowners and renters can apply for up to $500,000 in low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners or renters can apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property such as appliances, furniture, and automobiles. 

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Application deadlines:

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• Physical Damage- May 15, 2026

• Economic Injury- December 16, 2026

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For further assistance, please contact SBA disaster assistance:

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• 800-659-2955

• disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

• For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.