President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration on October 7, 2026, for Beaver and Piute counties in Utah following the June 2026 Cottonwood Fire and subsequent flooding and mudslides, governor.utah.gov reported. The federal action activates FEMA Public Assistance funding and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans to help rural communities rebuild damaged infrastructure after an incident period that spanned from July 13, 2026, through July 24, 2026.
The disaster declaration, designated as FEMA-4948-DR and detailed in a federalregister.gov notice issued by James Stallings, Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery, opens application portals for private non-profit organizations providing essential services of a governmental nature. Eligible entities can apply for physical damage loans and economic injury disaster loans through the MySBA Loan Portal, with physical loan applications due by December 7, 2026, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications open until July 7, 2027.
Cottonwood Fire and floods cause $47 million damage
The summer crisis began when the Cottonwood Fire burned across the region, setting the stage for severe flash floods and mudslides when heavy rains struck in July. On July 19, a massive flash flood wave reached Interstate 15 and extended five to six miles west of Beaver, forcing a complete closure of the interstate for nearly 12 hours, governor.utah.gov reported. Joint damage assessments conducted by FEMA, state officials, and local governments tallied at least $47 million in possible eligible damages across Beaver and Piute counties.
President Donald Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for the Cottonwood Fire and ensuing flooding and mudslides that caused devastating damage.Learn more: https://t.co/bpYKnboHqy pic.twitter.com/EAUrr9Y1Xt
“These rural communities were hit with a one-two punch this summer, first a devastating wildfire and then severe flooding and mudslides,” Gov. Cox said, according to governor.utah.gov. The destruction crippled critical utilities. Beaver City Power’s hydroelectric system suffered catastrophic damage to its diversions, pipes, and buildings, forcing the city to purchase outside power and straining local budgets. Culinary and agricultural watersheds were contaminated, triggering extended boil-water orders and requiring communities to truck in drinking water while pumps and ground aquifers were pushed beyond capacity.
Non-profit organizations get recovery loans at 3.625 percent
Private non-profit organizations affected by the disaster face an interest rate of 3.625 percent for both physical damage and economic injury loans, whether or not they have credit available elsewhere, according to the federalregister.gov notice. The disaster numbers assigned are 219686 for physical damage and 219690 for economic injury under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 59008 pursuant to 13 CFR 123.3(b). Applicants seeking assistance can contact the SBA customer service center by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at 1-800-659-2955, while deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals can dial 7-1-1 for telecommunications relay services.
Concurrently, the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management is deploying disaster recovery staff to guide eligible entities through the FEMA Public Assistance program, which covers 75 percent of eligible costs for emergency work and infrastructure repair. Several roads remain closed, including Utah State Route 153, which is the primary road up Beaver Canyon and an important connecting route between Beaver and Piute counties.
What are the Utah disaster declaration details?
What specific counties are covered under the Utah disaster declaration?
Beaver and Piute counties are the primary areas designated as adversely affected by the Cottonwood Fire, flooding, and mudslides under FEMA-4948-DR, governor.utah.gov reported.
What are the exact deadlines to submit SBA disaster loan applications?
The deadline to file physical loan applications is December 7, 2026, and the deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications is July 7, 2027, according to the federalregister.gov notice.
How can applicants reach the SBA disaster assistance customer service center?
Inquiries can be sent via email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by calling 1-800-659-2955, with telecommunications relay services available for speech or hearing disabilities by dialing 7-1-1, federalregister.gov reported.
Utah receives major disaster declaration for flooding and mudslides that followed the 2026 Cottonwood Firehttps://t.co/GNrr1aCWxh
What percentage of infrastructure repair costs does FEMA Public Assistance cover?
The FEMA Public Assistance program reimburses 75 percent of eligible costs related to emergency work and the repair or replacement of publicly owned disaster-damaged facilities, governor.utah.gov reported.
Communities in Braver and Piute counties could get as much as $47 million in disaster relief from the federal government after President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for the Cottonwood Fire and subsequent flooding. @abc4utah https://t.co/lXfnNTcwMf
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