How to Prepare Your Business for A Natural Disaster 

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Businesses
and
residents
of
multiple
states
have
been
negatively
impacted
in
recent
weeks,
causing
billions
of
dollars
in
damages
and
losses
for
communities
across
the
South
and
East
coast.
Rebuilding
efforts
have
started,
but
the
reality
is
much
bleaker
for
many
small
businesses.

Disaster
loans

have
recently
dried
up
from
the
SBA,
and
Congress
will
not
be
back
in
session
for
a
few
more
weeks. 

Unfortunately,
this
could
lead
to
further
businesses
not
making
it
through
the
aftermath
of
the
storm.
Historically,
a
large
swath
of
businesses
that
experience
a
large
natural
disaster
never
come
back
from
it,
according
to


FEMA.
But
there
are
things
you
can
do
to
mitigate
and
prepare
if
or
when
the
next
natural
disaster
occurs. 

Here’s
what
you
need
to
know. 

 

The
aftermath
of
a
storm
can
be
difficult
to
navigate
for
anyone.
For
business
operators,
it
can
mean
an
extended
period
of
time
without
any
incoming
business,
which
can
mean
the
end
for
many
small
businesses. 

As
the
beginning
stages
of
the
recovery
process
begin,
take
these
steps
into
account: 

 
 
 
 
 
1.
Document
everything,
and
file
a
claim
with
your
insurer 

Just
like
any
insurance
claim,
your
insurer
will
need
documentation
of
the
losses
to
your
building.
Additionally,
check
into
what
your
coverage
amounts
are
to
see
what
will
be
likely
covered
or
not. 

 
 
 
 
 
2.
If
you
need
assistance,
apply
immediately
for
a
disaster
loan 

If
your
community
has
been
impacted,
you
won’t
be
the
only
one
applying
for
a

disaster
loan

from
either
the
federal
government
for
lenders.
It’s
best
to
submit
your
application
for
financial
help
as
quickly
as
possible,
even
if
you’re
unsure
if
you
need
it.
This
is
because
lenders
can
take
a
significant
amount
of
time
to
process,
approve,
and
disburse
funds
to
those
who
need
it.

 

And
if
you’re
approved
and
don’t
need
the

disaster
loan

funds,
you
can
always
decline
the
loan
with
no
penalty. 

 
 
 
 
 
3.
Create
a
recovery
timeline
for
you
and
your
employees
 

There’s
a
ton
of
uncertainty
after
a
storm,
and
your
employees
will
look
to
you
as
the
leader
to
bring
some
level
of
assuredness. 

As
you
begin
recovery,
do
your
best
to
create,
deliver,
and
communicate
a
timeline
of
next
steps.
This
could
be
steps
like
cleaning
up
any
mess
left
behind,
reconstruction,
and
reopening
your
location.
This
will
give
your
team
goals
to
work
towards
in
a
time
of
frustration
and
defeat.  

 

As
climate
change
is
upon
us,
it’s
only
a
matter
of
time
before
the
next
natural
disaster
hits.
If
you
want
to
prepare
for
the
next
potential
storm,
here
are
a
few
tips
to
consider: 

 
 
 
 
 
1.
Prepare
your
physical
assets
with
upgrades 

If
you
have
a
physical
storefront
or
location
that
is
in
need
of
upgrades,
the
SBA
has
a
loan
program
that
could
potentially
help
you.
The
Small
Business
Administration
offers
mitigation
loans
to
help
businesses
upgrade
their
buildings
against
potential
natural
disasters.
This
includes
purchases
like
sealing
a
roof
deck
against
flood
damage,
installing
a
fire-rated
roof,
building
hail
protection
from
hailstorms,
and
more. 

You
can
find
out
more
about
what
upgrades
will
qualify


here. 

 
 
 
 
 
2.
Prepare
financially 

When
disaster
hits,
your
insurance
and
other
lending
options
can
be
available,
but
it
may
not
cover
everything.
It’s
up
to
you
to
have
money
put
away
for
an
emergency. 

Additionally,
look
into
your
insurance
policies
to
see
what
events
are
covered
and
how
much
coverage
you
have.
If
you’re
under-insured,
you
may
consider
raising
your
coverage
amounts
to
protect
your
business
assets. 

 
 
 
 
 
3.
Evaluate
your
business
plan
ahead
of
the
next
disaster 

The
best
businesses
pivot
when
things
drastically
change.
Maybe
there
is
a
way
for
your
business
to
lean
into
another
revenue
stream
while
one
is
down
because
of
a
disaster. 

 

 

Disaster
will
strike
when
you
least
expect
it,
and
operators
need
to
have
a
plan
in
place
to
get
back
up
and
running
as
quickly
as
possible.
A

small
business
disaster
loan

can
help,
but
there
is
also
plenty
you
can
do
ahead
of
the
next
storm
to
minimize
the
damage.