The clock is winding down for Hawaiʻi homeowners, renters, small businesses and private nonprofits hit by the March Kona Low storms. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s 60-day grace period for filing physical-damage disaster loan applications wraps up on Aug. 13, giving survivors a final window beyond the original June 14 deadline. State and federal officials are warning that tracking down insurance papers, contractor estimates and ID documents can drag on, so waiting until the last minute is a risky bet.
Grace Period for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s physical damage loan applications ends Aug. 13. Apply now! https://x.com/i/status/2066636137079374313
— Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (@HIEMA) June 15, 2026
The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency used a post on X to spotlight the Aug. 13 cutoff for physical-damage loan applications tied to the March storms and urged anyone affected to apply as soon as possible. The agency’s post also recaps SBA contact options for applicants and links to local recovery resources for extra help. Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.
Who qualifies and what the loans cover
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the original filing deadline for physical-damage disaster loans was June 14, and “after the deadline has passed, there is a 60-day grace period in which SBA will accept applications.” Homeowners and renters can apply for help to repair or replace a primary residence and personal property. Homeowners may qualify for up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence and up to $100,000 for personal property, while businesses and most private nonprofits can seek up to $2 million for physical damage. Economic Injury Disaster Loans are also on the table to help small businesses cover working capital needs.
How to apply
Residents and business owners can start an application at sba.gov/disaster or gather their paperwork now and call the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center for support through the process. The federal notice lists SBA’s disaster assistance contact details, including [email protected] and 1-800-659-2955, for applicants who want one-on-one guidance. In-person help may still be available at local recovery centers and SBA Business Recovery Centers, and the State’s recovery page posts current locations and schedules across Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi County. Federal Register, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.
Why this deadline matters
The presidential major disaster declaration for the March 10–24 storms opened the door to FEMA and SBA assistance programs, including the physical-damage loan option and its short grace period for late applications. State officials have urged residents to file insurance claims first, then register with FEMA and, after that, apply for SBA disaster assistance so that duplication-of-benefits rules and inspections line up properly with insurance and FEMA decisions. Office of the Governor.
If your home, rental unit or business took a hit in the storms, now is the time to move. Pull together your insurance paperwork, contractor estimates and identification, then start an SBA application. For questions, call SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or email [email protected], and remember that staff at local recovery centers and SBA offices can walk you through the forms and next steps.
