Trending
In the heartland, we are no strangers to dark skies and sudden storms. We know what it feels like when the unexpected hits--when the routine of Main Street is instantly interrupted by floodwaters or a blown-out roof. Recently, several locations across the Great Plains were severely impacted by tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding, including the devastating events in Missouri from April 23-28, 2026, and in Iowa from July 2-4, 2026.
In the days following a disaster, everything is a blur of exhaustion and anxiety. You are left wondering how to protect your family and how to keep your business running. Having joined the SBA team at several Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, I have seen firsthand the vital work of our Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. These teams offer a lifeline to those hit by storms, reinforcing that in these moments, you don’t need bureaucracy -- you need a partner. The SBA is here to provide that partnership through long-term, low-interest disaster loans designed to deliver.
Your financial lifeline: Keeping the engine running
The SBA provides long-term, low-interest disaster loans designed to deliver immediate financial breathing room--a reliable lifeline for your family and your business:
● For homeowners and renters, this assistance goes beyond the structure of a house; it is about putting life back together. It provides funds to repair your primary home and replace essential personal property, including everyday vehicles and the personal items you depend on.
● For businesses and nonprofits, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are a critical tool for keeping the lights on. Rather than just fixing physical damage, these act as working capital to cover your everyday, essential expenses--rent, utilities, inventory, and payroll. These funds keep the engine of our local economy running even when revenue temporarily stops flowing.
Immediate financial relief: The breathing room feature
We understand that the most daunting hurdle in the aftermath of a disaster is often the immediate strain on your bank account. Perhaps the most critical feature of this assistance is the immediate pause it offers your wallet: for the first year of these disaster loans, there is zero interest accrued and zero payments required.
Furthermore, we strongly encourage residents not to wait for insurance claims to settle before starting an application. Applying early ensures that when you do need options on the table, they are already there waiting for you.
Navigating the messy reality of recovery
We also recognize that navigating recovery is messy, and a “no” isn’t always the end of the road. If an initial application is denied, it is frequently just due to missing information, and we highly encourage you to request a reconsideration. Even if the chaos of recovery causes you to miss the standard 60-day filing deadline for reasons beyond your control, our team is still here to review your case.
While we cannot control the weather, we can control how we support one another in the aftermath. These resources exist to help you find your footing, ensuring you can return to the vital work of strengthening our local communities. For more information, visit our website: https://www.sba.gov/disaster/. If the unexpected happens, we are here to help our neighbors and support the heart of Main Street.
Brad Zaun is the SBA Regional Administrator for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and a former Republican Iowa State Senator.