SBA Disaster Declaration: 2026 Early January Storm, Tidal Flooding, and King Tides and DLOC Activation
Please read the information bellow regarding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration (Release Number CA-20039-01) following the 2026 Early January Storm, Tidal Flooding, and King Tides. The declaration, issued on February 5, 2026, authorizes federal disaster assistance for Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties to mitigate physical and economic losses resulting from the atmospheric events of December 31, 2025, through January 5, 2026.
Review the Humboldt County 2/6/2026 press release and SBA Fact Sheet on the declaration:
SSBA Disaster: CA-20039 FACT SHEET
Humboldt County Press Release 2/6/26
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) Operations
To facilitate the application process, in partnership with Humboldt COAD and the County of Humboldt, a DLOC will be established in Humboldt County to provide technical assistance and in-person consultations. Humboldt COAD will be present at the center to assist residents in navigating secondary aid resources and insurance concerns. Resources and supplies will also be distributed from the DLOC location while it is in operation.
Location: Humboldt Grange #501, 5845 Humboldt Hill Rd., Eureka, CA 95503.
Schedule: Opens Monday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. Regular hours are Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Note: The center will be closed on February 16 for President’s Day.
Appointments: While walk-ins are accepted, appointments can be scheduled in advance via appointment.sba.gov.
SBA Disaster Loan Program Specifications
The SBA disaster assistance framework provides low-interest federal loans designed to facilitate long-term recovery for the private sector and residential properties. Unlike traditional commercial credit, these instruments offer favorable terms to ensure community stability:
Business Physical Disaster Loans: Available to businesses and private nonprofits (PNPs) for the repair or replacement of real estate, machinery, inventory, and other capital assets, with a borrowing limit of up to $2 million.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): These loans address working capital deficits and operational expenses (e.g., payroll, fixed debts) exacerbated by the disaster, regardless of whether the entity sustained physical damage.
Residential Loans: Homeowners are eligible for up to $500,000 for primary residence restoration, while both homeowners and renters may access up to $100,000 for personal property loss (e.g., vehicles, appliances, furniture).
Fiscal Terms: Interest rates are established as low as 2.875% for residential applicants, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 4% for businesses. Repayment terms extend up to 30 years, with a 12-month deferment period where interest does not accrue and no payments are due.
Mitigation and Resiliency Enhancements
Applicants may qualify for a loan increase of up to 20% of their verified physical damage for mitigation measures. These funds are restricted to improvements that enhance structural resilience against future meteorological events, such as installing storm windows, weather stripping, and pipe/attic insulation.
Differentiating SBA and FEMA Assistance
It is critical for partners to clarify to constituents that while this is a federal declaration, it does not trigger FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) direct grants. Federal disaster recovery often begins with the SBA program, which serves as the primary tool for comprehensive recovery. Unlike FEMA grants, which are generally limited to making a home "safe, sanitary, and functional," SBA loans provide a significantly higher funding ceiling, allowing for a full return to pre-disaster conditions.
Network Distribution Instructions
We request that your organizations disseminate this information through your respective channels:
Digital Platforms: Distribute the SBA link (sba.gov/disaster) and the DLOC location details.
Referrals: Direct impacted residents to the Humboldt Grange starting February 9 to meet with SBA and COAD representatives.
Deadlines: Emphasize the April 6, 2026, deadline for physical damage and the November 3, 2026, deadline for economic injury.
