Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Small Business Owners

​Hurricane Resources in Florida
The U.S. Small Business Administration North and South Florida District Offices; SBA's Disaster Office (FOCE East); the Florida Small Business Development Center Network; and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity are working together to ensure our small business owners have the information they need to prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters. 

With Tropical Storm Ian pending as a threat to the Florida, we collectively encourage business owners to make a plan and take action now. 

The Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT) will provide daily conference calls at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Time, for private sector and industry partners beginning Monday, September 26, 2022.
Learn more about resources available to Florida Business Owners including the Emergency Bridge Loan at Floridadisaster.biz. 

Tips to Protect Your Business
A message from the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network

• Businesses should pay close attention to the storm's forecast. The National Hurricane Center releases a new full advisory at least every 6 hours, at 5am, 11am, 5pm and 11pm EDT. To remain up to date, visit the NHC website.  
• During this time, it's important to review your disaster and emergency communication plan.
• Backup all data on servers and personal computers and ensure remote access is available.
• Ensure your equipment is raised above potential flood levels.
• Review your insurance policies to mitigate any possible gaps in coverage.
• Protect and duplicate important business documents and records, including most recent tax and financial records (hard copies recommended). Be sure they are accessible from anywhere. 

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We encourage businesses to visit our website for preparedness resources, including a disaster preparedness plan guide, preparedness plan template, and emergency procedures template. For additional preparedness tips and resources, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

We're here to help. The Florida SBDC Network is a principal responder in the state's Emergency Support Function (ESF) 18 for Business & Industry. As such, we help businesses prepare for, respond, and recover from hurricanes and other disasters. Following a storm, the Florida SBDC Network helps impacted businesses prepare disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges.

After the Storm - SBA's Disaster Loans
SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.

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Who can use an SBA disaster loan?
Businesses of all sizes located in declared disaster areas, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters affected by declared disasters, including civil unrest and natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires.

How to use an SBA disaster loan

• Losses not covered by insurance or funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for both personal and business
• Business operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred

Business physical disaster
If you own a business located in a declared disaster area that has experienced damage, you may be eligible for financial assistance from SBA. Businesses of any size and most private non-profit organizations may apply to SBA for a loan to recover after a disaster.

Eligibility

• Up to $2 million to qualified businesses or most private nonprofit organizations to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.
• Covers disaster losses not fully covered by insurance or other sources. If required to apply insurance proceeds to an outstanding mortgage on the damaged property, that amount can be included in your disaster loan application.
• Proceeds from insurance coverage on business property may be deducted from the eligible loan amount.

Use of proceeds
Loan proceeds may be used for the repair or replacement of the following:

• Real property
• Machinery
• Equipment
• Fixtures
• Inventory
• Leasehold improvements

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Disaster loan funds may not be used to upgrade or expand a business, except as required by building codes. If you apply for mitigation assistance to make improvements that help reduce the risk of future property damage caused by a similar disaster, you may be eligible for up to a 20% loan amount increase above the real estate damage, as verified by SBA.