State approves loan program for local flood recovery
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency has secured federal funding to provide relief to local residents impacted by a series of flash floods that ravaged the region in August and September.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has authorized low-interest loans to help specific individuals, families and business owners across Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, according to a Tuesday release from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
In Washington County, residents of Canton, Donegal, East Washington, North Strabane, South Strabane, Union Township and the city of Washington are eligible to apply for the loans.
This includes up to $500,000 for homeowners to replace or repair their primary residences, and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property. Businesses and most private non-profit organizations may apply for a maximum of $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance, according to the release.
Canton Township Manager Stephanie Pettit said the loan program would help township residents “dramatically.”
“We were hoping that we would qualify … and we were fortunate to reach that threshold,” she said.
Impacted municipalities were required to reach a certain threshold of reported flood damages in order to qualify for certain PEMA relief.
Some municipalities did not qualify for the loan program despite being similarly hard-hit during the flooding, including Houston and Canonsburg.
South Strabane Manager Peter Stefansky said the loans would be “great for both business and homeowners in the township,” describing it as a “great opportunity.”
City officials still need to review specifics of the program further, but Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess said he was pleased that “we got the help we asked for.”
“We’re still reviewing everything so we can get that money to our residents,” he said.
Select small businesses and nonprofits in the declared disaster area that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for additional relief through a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
Repayment terms through the SBA are determined on a case-by-case basis, with a maximum term up to 30 years for eligible applicants. The deadline for SBA loan applications is Dec. 22, 2026, with applications for EIDL loans due July 23, 2027.
The SBA will also open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in South Strabane Township beginning Oct. 28 at noon to provide in-person assistance for those wishing to apply to the program, according to the release. The DLOC will permanently close Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m.
Applicants may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability should dial 7-1-1 for relay services), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov and referencing Pennsylvania Disaster Number PA-20046.
The Shapiro administration will also activate the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) through PEMA beginning Oct. 28 to offer grant support to eligible individuals and families affected by the Sept. 12-20 flash floods, according to the release.
More information on how the program is available online at pa.gov/ready/drap.