Businesses And Homeowners Should Plan For

Disasters In September, Year Round

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Citing current wildfires in Southern California and several storms impacting coastal regions, the US Small Business Administration is encouraging Americans and American businesses to be prepared. Administrator Karen G. Mills reminded the public September 10 about National Preparedness Month and the devastating effects of disaster, encouraging everyone to develop and implement disaster preparedness plans.

“There’s a tendency to think that a large-scale disaster is not going to happen ‘where I live,’” said Ms Mills. “We should all realize that storms, floods, earthquakes, fires, and manmade disasters can strike at any time and anywhere. Taking responsibility for your own post-disaster recovery is a good step toward protecting your family, your business, and your community.”

The US Small Business Administration is one of many state and local government and private sector coalition partners participating in this September’s National Preparedness Month.

To prepare for disasters, SBA offers the following tips:

*Develop a solid emergency response plan. Find evacuation routes from the home or business and establish meeting places. Make sure everyone understands the plan beforehand. Keep emergency phone numbers handy. Business owners should designate a contact person to communicate with other employees, customers, and vendors. Homeowners, renters, and business owners should ask an out-of-state friend, colleague or family member to be a “post-disaster” point of contact, supporting the flow of information about short-term relocations, recovery, additional sources of assistance, etc.

*Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Disaster preparedness begins with having adequate insurance coverage — at least enough to rebuild your home or business. Homeowners and business owners should review their policies to see what is or is not covered. Companies should consider business interruption insurance, which helps cover operating costs during the post-disaster shutdown period. Flood insurance is essential. To find out more about the National Flood Insurance Program, visit the website at www.floodsmart.gov.

*Copy important records. It is a good idea to back up vital records and information saved on computer hard drives, and store that information at a distant offsite location in fireproof safe deposit boxes. You should have copies/backups of important documents ready to take with you if you have to evacuate

*Create a “Disaster Survival Kit.” The kit should include a flashlight, a portable radio, extra batteries, first-aid supplies, nonperishable food, bottled water, a basic tool kit, plastic sheeting and garbage bags, cash, and a digital camera to take pictures of the property damage after the storm.

Following a disaster, the SBA makes low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and nonfarm businesses of all sizes. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate. Individuals may borrow up to $40,000 to cover losses to personal property.

Nonfarm businesses and nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged business assets and real property. Small businesses that suffered economic losses as a direct result of the declared disaster may apply for a working capital loan up to $2 million, even if the property was not physically damaged.

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (www.disastersafety.org) also has information on protecting your home or business. To learn more about developing an emergency plan, visit the DHS’s Ready Campaign website at www.ready.gov or call 800-BE-READY to receive free materials.

To learn more about the SBA’s disaster assistance program, visit the website at www.sba.gov/disasterassistance. Ms Mills full statement on preparedness can be viewed at www.youtube.com/sba.