SBA Disaster Assistance Available in Saline County Following Storms and Drought

Federal disaster loan assistance is available to some Saline County organizations affected by severe weather and drought in 2026, according to U.S. Small Business Administration and Kansas emergency-management records.

The assistance is not a general payment to all residents. Eligibility depends on the specific disaster declaration and the type of organization applying.

For the April 26-27 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding, Saline County was included in federal disaster declaration KS-20036. Eligible private nonprofit organizations that provide essential governmental-type services may qualify for physical damage and economic injury loans. The official federal notice lists a March 30, 2027 deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications.

One important correction: the federal record lists the physical-damage application deadline as Aug. 31, 2026, not Aug. 31, 2027. That deadline has already passed.

Saline County was also included in the federal disaster declaration covering storms from June 4-15, when severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding damaged infrastructure across Kansas. The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department confirmed Saline County was among the counties approved for federal Public Assistance.

For eligible private nonprofits affected by those June storms, SBA disaster loans can provide up to $2 million, with rates as low as 3.625% and terms of up to 30 years. A Kansas county notice for the same declaration lists the physical-damage deadline as Nov. 2, 2026 and the economic-injury deadline as June 1, 2027.

A third program involves the drought that began May 5. Saline County is included as a contiguous county in a federal drought disaster designation affecting parts of Kansas. Eligible small businesses, private nonprofits, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and certain aquaculture businesses may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans when drought-related losses interfere with normal financial obligations. The application deadline is March 10, 2027.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are intended for working-capital needs such as fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other expenses that cannot be met because of a qualifying disaster. Physical damage is not necessarily required for an EIDL. SBA disaster loans are loans that must be repaid, not grants.

Applications and additional eligibility information are available through the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance program. Applicants can also contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

The declarations create several different forms of assistance for Saline County, but eligibility varies significantly depending on the disaster, organization and type of loss.