Disaster Preparedness for Businesses
- Make a business continuity/recovery plan. Websites such as the Carolina Small Business Development Fund and Small Business Administration (SBA) offer helpful guides and checklists to get started. carolinasmallbusiness.org
- Review your business-related insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage. If you lease your space, review your lease to make sure the building owner has adequate coverage.
- Gather important business documents including your insurance policy and agent information. Back up electronic files to a cloud-based server or copy to a USB flash drive.
- Secure all office equipment including cell phones, chargers, laptops and USB flash drives. Take pictures of inventory.
- Collect contact information for your utility providers to quickly report disruptions and outages.
- Maintain updated contact information for all employees to check their safety and communicate about the status of business operations.
- Provide regular “out of office” updates to your business phone and/or email to share information on business operations among staff and customers.
- Review incoming and outgoing shipments and make alternative arrangements if necessary.
- Remember rumors are common after a disaster. This can lead people to delay their own recovery plans. Be proactive, patient and persistent in pursuing your recovery.
| Recovery Resources for Businesses |
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| Carolina Small Business Development Fund carolinasmallbusiness.org |
| Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) 800.228.8443 (Se Habla Espanol) |
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Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) |
| Disaster Unemployment Assistance des.nc.gov |
| NC Rural Center’s Thread Capital Rapid Recovery Loan threadcap.org/disaster-recovery |
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NC Department of Administration (DOA) |
| Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources Disaster loan: disasterloan.sba.gov Business guide: sba.gov/business-guide |