Additional Information
U.S. Department
of Homeland Security:
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Business Solutions
Hurricane Information:
Businesses are encouraged to have a continuity plan to help them survive the storm AND stay in business. Owners of both large and small businesses need to have secure storage for data and files, alternative sites for doing business, methods of communicating with employees and customers and appropriate insurance. These are just a few items to consider when putting together a business continuity plan.
Set up a to-go box for critical papers
Use a plastic, waterproof container that can
be used to hold and carry important business
documents and helpful forms including:
- A list of all employees, key customers and
clients along with their phone numbers
- Insurance policies and agent contact information
- Back-up electronic data
- Equipment, computer software/hardware and
furniture inventories
- A list of emergency vendors, like plumbers
and restoration contractors
- Copies of essential business policies, plans
and agreements
- Photographs of the business, both inside
and out
Business preparation
tips
- Take the necessary precautions. As a storm
threatens, secure your building. Cover and
move equipment and furniture to a secured
area.
- Always protect your data with back up files.
- Make plans to work with limited cash and
probably no water, sewer or power for at least
two weeks.
- Contact your customers and suppliers regarding
your continuity plans.
- Protect windows and glass doors.
- Clear the property or tie down any items
that could become flying missiles.
- Fill fleet cars and equipment gas tanks.
- Turn off electricity, water and gas.
- If your business is in a non-evacuation area,
think about having your business serve as a host
home shelter for employees.
Employees need TLC
Communicate your business hurricane plan with
your employees. Remember, too, that your associates
may need some extra consideration. Probably all
of your employees need time to prepare their
own homes and talk with their families about
their own personal emergency plans.
Business interruption insurance
Business owners need to think about what they
would do if their buildings were unusable after
a storm. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Understand that Business Interruption Insurance
will compensate you for lost income if your
company has to leave the site because of
disaster-related damage.
- Be sure that the policy will cover your company
for more than a few days. After a disaster,
it may take more time to get back up and running.
- Ask what the waiting period would be before
the insurance coverage begins.
- Explore the cost of adding this coverage
to your specific business type. Some businesses,
like restaurants, might have to pay a higher
premium based on risk.
Special
note for home-based businesses
All businesses, large and small, are thinking
about emergency preparedness. And, home-based
business owners should be doing that too.
“Home-based business owners should be aware that
after a disaster, they may qualify for SBA Disaster
Loans  and possibly unemployment benefits, if they
are unable to work,” said Dr. Cynthia Johnson,
Senior Manager of Business Assistance at Pinellas
County Economic Development.
A Go Box is another critical item every home-based business owner should pull together. One
action to take right now is to back up computer
information on CDs or another portable medium.
Store those back-ups in the Go Box too. Take photos
of your home office, both inside and out, to take
along.
“Just like all business leaders, home-based business
owners should ensure they safeguard essential
business documents and information in a Go Box,”
said Johnson. Ideally, that box should be backed
up in an alternative location in the event the
home is destroyed.
Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program - A life raft for businesses after a storm
Should a devastating storm impact Pinellas County, Florida’s small business emergency bridge loan program is designed to provide a source of expedient cash flow to businesses impacted by a major catastrophe, enabling them to quickly begin repairs and replace inventory. The short-term loans are intended to "bridge the gap" between the time a major catastrophe hits, and when a business has secured other resources like sufficient profits from revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims, secured longer-term loans to include U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans, to operate successfully.
Short-term loans of up to $25,000 will be available to owners of small businesses in counties most impacted by a storm. The interest-free loans come in terms of 90-day or 180-day maturities. To be eligible, a business owner must have been operational for one full year prior to the storm, have less than 100 employees and verifiable, physical damage to their business.
Should a hurricane strike our region, Pinellas County Economic Development will quickly distribute information regarding available bridge loans to local businesses and the media. SBDC Certified Business Consultants at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will assist business owners with the forms and applications needed to prepare for and recover from disasters.
See Small
Business Recovery Information for more information.
Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center
Department of Emergency Management
(727) 464-3800
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