Businesses, nonprofits, and residents affected by severe winter storms that struck Marin County in early January can now apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. The loans follow an emergency proclamation issued by the county after widespread damage from excessive rainfall, flooding, and record king tides.

As of Friday, the U.S. Small Business Administration began offering disaster loans to help cover physical damage and economic losses incurred between Dec. 31 and Jan. 5. The storms caused extensive coastal and inland flooding, road closures, utility disruptions, landslides, and displacement of residents.

Preliminary assessments compiled by the county Office of Emergency Management estimated total countywide losses at approximately $4.35 million across both incorporated and unincorporated areas. The damage met state and federal thresholds required to qualify for SBA assistance.

Funds can be used to repair or replace damaged real estate, equipment, and inventory. Homeowners and renters may apply for assistance to repair or replace personal property, including furniture, vehicles, and appliances.

SBA will open three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers offering in-person assistance.

  • Sausalito Parks and Recreation Center at 420 Litho St.: Friday (1-7 p.m.), Feb. 17-20 (10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.)
  • Marin County Office of Emergency Management at 1600 Los Gamos Drive #300, San Rafael: Feb. 23 (1-7 p.m.), Feb. 24-27 (10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.)
  • Stinson Beach Community Church at 32 Belvedere Ave.: March 2 (1-7 p.m.), March 3-6 (10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.)

The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is April 6. Applications for economic injury loans are due by Nov. 3.

Those seeking relief can apply online, call (800) 659-2955, or email SBA customer service.

Ruth Dusseault is an investigative reporter and multimedia journalist focused on environment and energy. Her position is supported by the California local news fellowship, a statewide initiative spearheaded by UC Berkeley aimed at supporting local news platforms. While a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism (c’23), Ruth developed stories about the social and environmental circumstances of contaminated watersheds around the Great Lakes, Mississippi River and Florida’s Lake Okeechobee. Her thesis explored rights of nature laws in small rural communities. She is a former assistant professor and artist in residence at Georgia Tech’s School of Architecture, and uses photography, film and digital storytelling to report on the engineered systems that undergird modern life.