Disaster Loans Open for East Oakland Fire Victims

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to California businesses, private nonprofits and residents who suffered losses in the East Oakland apartment fire on Sept. 25, 2026, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced Nov. 6.

Read the Cal OES release: https://www.news.caloes.ca.gov/federal-assistance-is-available-for-californians-affected-by-the-east-oakland-apartment-fire/

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued the disaster declaration in response to an Oct. 23 request from Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs, according to the SBA.

Seven Counties Covered, Three Loan Types Offered

The declaration makes SBA assistance available in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties, the release stated.

Three types of loans are available: Business Physical Disaster Loans, Home Disaster Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, the release stated.

Businesses and private nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets, the release stated.

Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence, and homeowners and renters may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property such as clothing, furniture, cars and appliances, according to the SBA.

Loan Amounts, Rates, and Repayment Terms

Loans carry terms of up to 30 years, the release stated. Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits and 3% for homeowners and renters, according to the SBA.

No payments are due for the first 12 months, and no interest accrues during that period, the release stated.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, for working capital needs caused by the disaster, even if the business or nonprofit suffered no physical damage, the SBA stated.

Outreach Center, Deadlines, and How to Apply

SBA customer service representatives have been staffing a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Oakland Public Library, Melrose Branch, 4805 Foothills Blvd., Oakland, since Wednesday, Nov. 4, to answer questions and help with applications, the SBA stated.

The center is open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Fridays from noon to 5:30 p.m. It is closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day and closes Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., the release stated.

The deadline to return physical damage applications is Dec. 28, 2026. The deadline for economic injury applications is July 27, 2027.

Applicants can apply online at sba.gov/disaster, call SBA Customer Service at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, the release stated.

Sources

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, "Federal assistance is available for Californians affected by the East Oakland Apartment Fire," November 6, 2026: https://www.news.caloes.ca.gov/federal-assistance-is-available-for-californians-affected-by-the-east-oakland-apartment-fire/

U.S. Small Business Administration, "SBA Offers Relief to California Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Residents Affected by East Oakland Apartment Fire," November 4, 2026: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/11/04/sba-offers-relief-california-businesses-private-nonprofits-residents-affected-east-oakland-apartment