• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Barbara Weltman

Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc.

Whitepaper download

Subscribe and download our eBook, "150+ Tax Deductions for Small Business A to Z."

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Get the:

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Big Ideas For Your Business
    • Idea Of The Day ®
    • SMB Legal
    • SMB Taxes
    • SMB Financial
    • Small Business
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Services
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Radio Shows/Podcasts
  • Be a Guest Blogger

Think Now about Disaster Preparedness

June 9, 2016 / By Barbara Weltman

© Adiruch | Dreamstime.com - <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-be-prepared-concept-man-hand-tablet-coffee-cup-image71334764#res2965056">BE PREPARED Concept Photo</a>With the 2016 hurricane season under way until November 1, now’s a good time for you to review how ready your business is to face a storm or other disaster. It’s been reported that 40% of small businesses suffering hurricane damage fail to reopen. Even if you’re not in an area typically impacted by hurricanes, there are other disasters that can befall you.

I’ve had some serious hurricane experience. I was at my mom’s house in 1992 during Hurricane Andrew. I experienced Hurricane Sandy up close and personal. I was without power for 11 days, and I broke my foot the day after the storm when I went out to see the damage. Hurricanes are no fun, but they — and other disasters — happen.

Don’t become a statistic; be ready!

Get Ready, America! has compiled a 3-step business checklist to help you protect your business. Its steps include: protect property, protect important documents and information, and keep a preparedness checklist. Much of what’s on the checklist is common sense, but it’s doing it that counts. For example, the checklist suggests keeping your important paper documents (in waterproof containers); I use ziplock bags for certain papers. It’s even better to scan documents and back up your computer files so you’ll have access to them at anytime from anywhere.

The checklist also suggests that you retain key emergency contact information, including:

  • Small Business Administration (SBA): 800-359-2227
  • FEMA: 800-621-3362
  • Your insurance company and agent’s contact information

Speaking of insurance, now’s a good time to review your coverage, even if it’s not renewal time. Here are some areas to revisit:

  • The extent of coverage for property damage. Since you last obtained coverage, you may have acquired new, expensive, equipment, machinery, or other property. Be sure this and other needs are adequately insured.
  • Business continuation coverage. Your basic business owner’s policy (BOP) may not provide coverage for costs you incur following a storm and before you can get back to business. The coverage may pay for rent in an alternate location during the period of repairs. Depending on the policy, you may even be covered for lost profits.
  • Flood insurance. FEMA reports that between 2005 and 2010, the average commercial flood claim was over $85,000. If you’re located in a flood zone, you must have this coverage; your BOP won’t cover flood damage. If you’re not in a flood zone, you may still want the coverage. It’s inexpensive, and the recent flooding in Texas is a lesson that water knows no bounds.

Here’s a list of preparedness checklists and other resources to peruse so you can create a plan that’s suited to your needs:

  • American Red Cross’s Preparing Your Business for the Unthinkable
  • Chubb’s Hurricane Preparedness
  • FedEx’s emergency preparedness checklist for small businesses
  • IRS’s YouTube video on preparing for disaster
  • OSHA’s hurricane preparedness and response
  • Ready.gov’s preparedness planning for your business
  • SBA’s Emergency Preparedness
  • SCORE’s resources for disaster preparedness

Be safe, and be prepared!

Tags disaster disaster preparedness FEMA hurricane season property damage small businesses

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • General Business (496)
  • Guest Blog (108)
  • Homepage (17)
  • Small Business (986)
  • SMB Financial (322)
  • SMB Legal (65)
  • SMB Taxes (324)

Barbara’s Recent Posts

  • New Business or Project Crowdfunding: What To Know May 20, 2025
  • Old-School Estimating vs. Smart Solutions: What’s Really Holding You Back? May 19, 2025
  • Employees Getting Called to Public Service: What to Know May 15, 2025
  • Not Too Late to Prep for Summer Now May 13, 2025
  • How Will the Next Generation of Learners Affect the Workplace May 12, 2025
  • Moms Know Best: Lessons for Entrepreneurs May 8, 2025
  • Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace May 6, 2025
  • Let’s Celebrate Small Business! May 1, 2025
  • Scaling Your Business: Adding a New State Location April 29, 2025
  • What to Do about Waste Management in Your Warehouse April 28, 2025
  • Restrooms: Not Front Office but Just as Important April 25, 2025
  • Eye Strain: A Workplace Problem to Address April 24, 2025
Awarded Top 100 Small Business Blog medal (link will open in a new window or tab)
Marquis Who's Who 2023 Badge
Top Small Business Blogs (Link will open in a new window or tab.)
8 Financial blogs small business Owners Need to Read. Invoice home.  (link will open in a new window or tab)
Best Small Business Blog, Expertido.org
Top 50 Small Business Blogs 2018
Best Small Business Blogs
BizHumm Top 100 Business Blog Award to Barbara Weltman
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2017 (link will open in a new window or tab)
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2016 (link will open in a new window or tab)

Footer

Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Small business ideas, business tax news and small business consulting from Barbara Weltman to provide business owners with the information they need to succeed. Visit our small business blog, Idea of The Day®, small business books and articles on small business taxes, small business finance and small business legal advice.

Contact Us

[email protected]

(772) 492-9593

gacor maxwin situs slot thailand terpercaya situs slot gacor situs gacor akun pro thailand slot bandar togel terpercaya

Latest Tweets

bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 19

What’s Happening in Congress to Help Small Businesses; Many law and tax changes being debated now in Congress will impact small business - https://bit.ly/4i61CEl

Reply on Twitter 1924594760955601204 Retweet on Twitter 1924594760955601204 Like on Twitter 1924594760955601204 Twitter 1924594760955601204
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 19

Growing Your Business by Adding New Products - #Video -- YouTube https://youtu.be/jxhwGIZWbgI?si=2RmJPNCBXxWhk9Pc #smallbusiness #businessgrowth #products

Reply on Twitter 1924548956429680903 Retweet on Twitter 1924548956429680903 Like on Twitter 1924548956429680903 1 Twitter 1924548956429680903
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
May 19

Old-School Estimating vs. Smart Solutions: What’s Really Holding You Back? Working with outdated methods isn't just inconvenient https://bit.ly/3SaTG9q #smallbusiness #estimating #projectwork #smallbiz #construction #contractwork

Reply on Twitter 1924515232937828698 Retweet on Twitter 1924515232937828698 Like on Twitter 1924515232937828698 Twitter 1924515232937828698
Load More

Copyright © 2008–2025 Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc  |  Designed by Hudson Fusion

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap