Here are some resources for small businesses that may be affected by Milton. Please feel free to share! We will be offering as much support for as we can post storm, as long as our building is still standing, we’re opening our warehouse and office for deliveries, storage, logistics, etc. Please feel free to email with us if you can help or need help!
- SBA and Government Disaster Assistance Programs
• A Guide to SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program (Video): Learn how the SBA helps small businesses recover from disaster losses.
• Disaster Recovery Programs – Florida: Information on various disaster recovery programs offered in the state of Florida.
• FEMA Small Business Program: FEMA’s support program for small businesses.
• Small Business Preparedness Expanded Guide (U.S. Chamber of Commerce): Comprehensive guide to help businesses prepare for and respond to disasters. - Business Preparedness and Recovery Tips
• What to Do After a Natural Disaster Strikes Your Business: Immediate steps businesses can take to recover after a disaster.
• 5 Disaster Preparedness Tips for Small Businesses: Simple, actionable preparedness tips to safeguard your business.
• FEMA Business Preparedness Graphics: Free visual tools for business preparedness communication.
• Preparedness Planning for Your Business (Ready.gov): Resources for developing a disaster plan for your business.
• Ready Business Hurricane Toolkit (FEMA): A toolkit to help businesses prepare for hurricanes, including stats on their impacts. - Case Studies & Recovery Stories
• Small Businesses Struggling to Recover from Hurricane Michael: Insights into the challenges faced by businesses after Hurricane Michael.
• Hurricane Michael: One Year Later, Federal Aid for Recovery Totals Nearly $2B: A look at the federal aid disbursed in the aftermath of the disaster.
• Rubio Gets Feedback After Hurricane Michael: Senator Rubio gathers feedback from small business owners about recovery efforts. - Hurricane Information and Historical Context
• 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane (Wikipedia): Historical perspective on the 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane.
• The Worst Places for Hurricanes (BestPlaces.net): Study ranking hurricane hotspots across the U.S.
• Tampa Bay’s Coming Storm (Washington Post): Climate change and the risks of a future storm impacting Tampa Bay. - Mental Health and Community Resilience
• Children’s Mental Health in the Aftermath of Disasters: Rebound & Recovery (Webinar): Resources for supporting children’s mental health post-disaster.
• Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event (CDC): Strategies for coping with trauma after a disaster. - Essential Business Continuity Resources
• Free FEMA Course: Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster (IS-394.A): A free online course covering protection measures for small businesses and homes.
• Crisis Communications Plan (Ready.gov): Guidance for maintaining effective communication during and after disasters
• Study: 40% of Businesses Fail to Reopen After a Disaster: Alarming statistics about business recovery post-disaster, and how to avoid becoming one of them.
• Prepare Your Organization for a Hurricane Playbook (Ready.gov): Playbook for organizational preparedness in the event of a hurricane. - Additional Regional and Business Recovery Resources
• Florida Disaster.biz: A portal for disaster preparedness and recovery for businesses in Florida.
• QuickFacts: Hillsborough County, Florida (Census): Census data for the Tampa Bay area, useful for assessing local demographics during recovery planning.
• Hurricane Recovery a Double Whammy for Small-Business Owners: Double-impact challenges faced by small business owners post-hurricane. - Recovery Aid and Financial Assistance
• SBA Hurricane Prep Checklist: Checklist to help small businesses prepare financially for hurricanes.
• Hurricane Claims Data Information (Scroll Down): Useful data on hurricane claims by year and location. - Additional Tips
• Create an Emergency Fund: Even with insurance, it’s crucial to have liquid savings to cover immediate recovery costs after a disaster.
• Backup Essential Business Data: Ensure that all important business documents and data are stored in the cloud or on secure servers.
• Develop a Supply Chain Contingency Plan: Disasters can disrupt your supply chain; work with your suppliers to build a plan for continuity.