Through its Disaster Loan Program, the Small Business Admin. (SBA) has been a major source of assistance for the restoration of commerce and households in areas stricken by natural and human-caused disasters. SBA offers direct loans to businesses to help repair, rebuild, and recover from economic losses after a disaster, but approximately 80% of the agency¿s approved direct disaster loans are made to individuals and households (renters and property owners) to help repair and replace homes and personal property. This report describes the SBA Disaster Loan Program, including the types of loans available to individuals, households, businesses, and nonprofit org. It highlights eight issues of potential congressional concern. Charts and tables.

After the Small Business Admin. (SBA) was widely criticized for its performance following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, the agency took steps to reform the Disaster Loan Program and Congress enacted the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008 (Act). This report determined: (1) the extent to which SBA addressed the Act's requirements; and (2) how SBA's response to major disasters in 2008 aligned with key components of its June 2007 Disaster Recovery Plan. The report also conducted site visits to areas affected by major 2008 disasters, reviewed SBA's customer satisfaction survey, and obtained the opinions of relevant stakeholders. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandymade landfall, causing an estimated$65 billion in damage. SBA administersthe Disaster Loan Program, whichprovides physical disaster loans (usedto rebuild or replace damagedproperty) and economic injury disasterloans (used for working capital untilnormal operations resume) to helpbusinesses and individual homeownersrecover from disasters. In theaftermath of Hurricane Sandy,Congress passed the Disaster ReliefAppropriations Act of 2013, whichappropriated $779 million to SBA fordisaster loans and administrativeexpenses.GAO was asked to review SBA'sassistance to small businessesfollowing Hurricane Sandy. This reportexamines (1) the timeliness of SBA'sdisaster assistance to smallbusinesses; (2) the loan approval ratesfor small businesses and reasons fordecline for Hurricane Sandy andprevious disasters; and (3) the extentto which SBA has implementedprograms mandated by the SmallBusiness Disaster Response and LoanImprovements Act of 2008. GAOanalyzed SBA data on applicationprocessing; reviewed documentationrelated to SBA's planning, relevantlegislation, and regulations; andinterviewed SBA officials.