The SBA says small businesses and private nonprofits in the Red Hook fire area still have time to apply for disaster help, but not much.
The deadline for economic injury disaster loan applications is Aug. 14, 2026. The declaration covers Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond counties in New York, plus Hudson County in New Jersey. SBA disaster relief release
That matters because this is not just a “my storefront burned” program.
The SBA says the loans can cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, including fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could not be paid because revenue got hit. That applies even if the business did not suffer physical damage. SBA disaster relief release
The terms are not trivial:
- Up to $2 million
- Interest as low as 4% for small businesses
- Interest as low as 3.625% for nonprofits
- Terms up to 30 years
- No payments due until 12 months after first disbursement
The SBA also says there is a 60-day grace period after the deadline, but that is not a reason to wait. It is a backup if your paperwork is not perfect today. SBA disaster relief release
Owner Takeaway
If your business is in one of the covered counties, treat this like a cash-flow deadline, not a government notice.
- Pull together payroll records, rent, vendor bills, and recent revenue reports.
- Check whether the loss was mainly working capital, physical damage, or both.
- Apply before Aug. 14 instead of waiting for the grace period.
- If you have insurance paperwork, keep that handy too.
The point of disaster relief is not to make you philosophical about resilience.
It is to keep the lights on while you rebuild the revenue.
Sources: SBA disaster relief release