Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved Governor Shapiro’s recent request to make financial aid available to individuals and families affected by the February 20, 2026, fire at the Hotel Hampton and surrounding properties, located on the 400 block of Northampton Street in Easton. Additionally, the Shapiro Administration has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) which provides grants to individuals and families through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
The fire in Downtown Easton has devastated the local community and displaced residents and several main street small businesses. That’s why we secured these federal low-interest loans for our families and businesses, worked with our local partners to establish a community assistance center, and activated the Commonwealth’s disaster assistance grants to help people repair their homes, seek temporary housing, and recoup unexpected losses. We will continue to work closely with local officials to ensure this community has the support they need to recover.
— Govenor Josh Shapiro
“This fire displaced dozens of people from their homes and greatly impacted the downtown Easton community,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “The Shapiro Administration worked with the federal government to quickly open up access to low-interest loans, and PEMA will activate the Commonwealth’s disaster grant program as tools to ensure those impacted by this fire have the support needed to recoup unexpected losses.”
“What happened at the Hotel Hampton was devastating for downtown Easton, but it has also shown how our community and our partners at the state and federal level step up in a crisis,” said Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski. "I’m grateful to Governor Shapiro, PEMA, and the SBA for moving quickly to open up loans and grants so that displaced residents and our Main Street businesses can recover and rebuild stronger. These low‑interest loans and state grants will help Easton residents, small businesses, and workers stabilize, find housing, and begin to rebuild their lives after the Hotel Hampton fire.”
The SBA’s Disaster Loan Program provides low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, private non-profits, and businesses who sustained physical damages from the fire. The SBA can provide up to $500,000 for homeowners to replace or repair their primary residences and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property. Businesses and most private non-profits may apply for up to $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.
Additionally, small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared disaster area that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
The SBA offers long-term repayment options to keep payments affordable, with terms up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. Details about the SBA’s disaster declaration and access to the online loan application for the Feb. 20, 2026, fire can be found here.
Applicants may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability should dial 7-1-1 for relay services), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov and referencing Pennsylvania Disaster Number PA-20028.
The deadline to return SBA disaster loan applications for physical damages is May 4, 2026. The deadline to return SBA economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) applications is Dec. 4, 2026.
The SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Easton beginning Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM to provide in-person assistance for those wishing to apply. Visiting the DLOC is not required to obtain assistance.
DLOC Location:
Easton City Hall
123 South Third Street
Easton, PA 18042
DLOC Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM.
Saturday from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.
Sunday the DLOC is closed
The DLOC permanently closes Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 2:00 PM.
Alternatively, paper loan applications can be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Completed paper applications can be dropped off in-person at the DLOC or mailed to:
U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement
14925 Kingsport Road
Fort Worth, TX 76155-2243
The Commonwealth DRAP grants are designed for homeowners and renters who meet lower income thresholds, are uninsured or underinsured, or have not received other local, state, federal, non-governmental, or private aid. For those who qualify, DRAP grants up to $20,000 per household can be used to cover temporary housing and rental expenses or replace essential personal property.
Renters impacted by the Hotel Hampton fire are encouraged to visit the PEMA website at pa.gov/ready/drap to see if they qualify for DRAP grants. The DRAP application portal will open Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Those impacted by the Hotel Hampton fire who still have critical needs can contact PA211 by dialing 2-1-1, texting 898-211, or via online chat at pa211.org to be connected with local resources.