Abbott Requests SBA Declaration for El Paso Floods
Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide federal low-interest disaster loans to El Paso County after severe storms and flooding.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Emergency Response
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration for El Paso County, which would make low-interest federal disaster loans available to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, and renters. The SBA must approve the request before eligible applicants can access the loans.
Why it matters
The request is intended to help families and businesses affected by severe storms and flooding in El Paso County recover. State recovery resources remain available in the county under an existing state disaster declaration while the federal request is pending.
The request is based on damage assessments conducted by local, state, and federal officials in flood-hit communities. The SBA's approval decision and the final scale of losses remain unresolved.
The players
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott is the Governor of Texas, serving as the state's chief executive and leading its response to disasters affecting the state's counties.
U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration is a federal agency that provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses, nonprofits, and individuals after federally declared disasters.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is the state agency responsible for coordinating disaster preparedness, response, and recovery across Texas.
The details
Abbott submitted the request after officials assessed damage in the affected communities. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is urging residents to document storm damage through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, known as iSTAT, and to submit reports through the state's assessment portal.
Timeline
Late October 2026: Flooding and severe storms hit El Paso County.
November 14, 2026: Abbott requested the SBA disaster declaration.
Emergency Response Pathway
The request follows the federal disaster declaration process under the SBA's disaster loan program, which requires state-submitted damage assessments before approval. The SBA must approve the declaration before eligible applicants can access loans.
Residents affected by flooding in El Paso County should document storm damage through iSTAT and submit reports through the state's assessment portal. Eligible businesses, nonprofits, and renters will be able to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans once the SBA approves the declaration.
The takeaway
Residents who suffered storm damage should begin documenting losses now, since timely damage reports support both state assessments and any federal loan applications that follow.
Further reading
Explore more on Emergency Response coverage in Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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