Nassau property owners eligible for federal loans to fix damage from spring storm

Homeowners and small businesses in Nassau County are among those eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal loans to repair damages caused by a spring storm.

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a physical disaster declaration for Queens and surrounding counties, which includes Nassau and the remaining four boroughs of New York City, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday in a news release. The declaration means homeowners, business owners and renters whose property was damaged by the storm May 20 can apply for "low-interest" loans, the release said.

Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair their primary home or up to $100,000 "to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property," according to the release. Renters can also apply for the latter loan.

Businesses can apply for a maximum of $2 million to replace "real property, inventories, machinery, equipment, and other physical losses," the release said. Businesses and nonprofits can also obtain an economic injury loan worth up to $2 million "to provide necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster."

Some areas of western Nassau received more than 2 inches of rain during the May 20 storm, while between 1 and 1.5 inches fell in eastern Nassau, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains and thunderstorms that swept across the region that Wednesday evening caused localized flash flooding.

"Flooding can be devastating and my heart goes out to those impacted by this severe weather," Hochul said in a statement. "We are fighting for every available resource to ensure the people of Queens can recover and rebuild, and this designation is vital to helping impacted homeowners, renters and business owners in this area."

Those impacted by the storm can submit applications for federal loans through the MySBA loan portal, according to the release. Anyone requiring additional assistance can reach the SBA’s Customer Service Center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or 1-800-659-2955. The application deadline for most of the loans is Aug. 31, 2026, while the deadline for businesses and nonprofits seeking an economic injury loan is March 30, 2027.