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 Carolina Small Business Development Fund carolinasmallbusiness.org Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) 800.228.8443 (Se Habla Espanol) Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) Business Counseling Assistance sbtdc.org 800.228.8443 Disaster Unemployment Assistance des.nc.gov NC Rural Center’s Thread Capital Rapid Recovery Loan threadcap.org/disaster-recovery NC Department of Administration (DOA) Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB)ncadmin.nc.gov/businesses/hub/hub-certification Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources Disaster loan: disasterloan.sba.gov Business guide: sba.gov/business-guide
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 Carolina Small Business Development Fund carolinasmallbusiness.org Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) 800.228.8443 (Se Habla Espanol) Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) Business Counseling Assistance sbtdc.org 800.228.8443 Disaster Unemployment Assistance des.nc.gov NC Rural Center’s Thread Capital Rapid Recovery Loan threadcap.org/disaster-recovery NC Department of Administration (DOA) Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB)ncadmin.nc.gov/businesses/hub/hub-certification Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources Disaster loan: disasterloan.sba.gov Business guide: sba.gov/business-guide
