The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Mar. 18 that it has approved a disaster declaration for six counties in northeastern Illinois impacted by severe storms and flooding from Aug. 16–18, 2025. This declaration enables homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations to apply for low-interest loans to help cover damages not covered by insurance.
The announcement is significant for residents and business owners in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties who suffered losses during the August storms. The SBA will open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) starting Friday, March 20 to provide in-person assistance with loan applications for both physical damage and economic injury.
Homeowners and renters may apply for up to $500,000 in loans to repair or replace damaged real estate and up to $100,000 for personal property such as appliances or furniture. Businesses and some non-profits can borrow up to $2 million for physical damages. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is also available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations that have experienced financial losses due to the disaster; however, agricultural producers are generally not eligible unless they operate small aquaculture enterprises.
Residents can seek assistance at several DLOC locations throughout suburban Cook County and Chicago or apply online at sba.gov/disaster beginning March 20. Each location will offer Spanish translation services. The filing deadline for physical property damage applications is May 15; the deadline for economic injury applications is Dec. 16.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS), and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) are working with the SBA to support those affected by the storm through this loan program.
Looking ahead, officials encourage all impacted residents—regardless of their specific municipality—to visit any DLOC site or use online resources if they need help applying.
