Residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the June 21st tornado and severe storms in Wayne County are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance following approval of a disaster declaration by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The declaration provides low-interest, long-term disaster loans to eligible homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations to help recover from storm-related damage.
In addition to Wayne County, the assistance is available to eligible applicants in the surrounding counties of Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Perry and Washington.
The disaster declaration was announced Tuesday by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Office of Homeland Security.
To assist with the application process, the SBA has opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the United Way of South Central Illinois in Mount Vernon. The center opened Monday and will remain in operation through August 17th. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The deadline to apply for loans covering physical property damage is Sept. 28, 2026. Applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans must be submitted by April 29, 2027.
Eligible residents may apply online, by phone or in person at the Mount Vernon outreach center.
How to apply, get more information
- For online applications, visit sba.gov/disasterhttp://www.sba.gov/disaster
- By phone or email: SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659 2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability may dial 711 for relay services.
- For more information, visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance