Floodwaters that have inundated southern Louisiana are a reminder to small business owners of the need to prepare for possible disasters.
Many businesses across the country have no flood insurance, making it hard or even impossible for some to rebuild and repair following a flood. Less than a third of Louisiana companies are insured against flood damage, state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon told The Baton Rouge Business Report.
Disaster planning includes protecting employees, business data and buildings, and creating a plan to get everyone working again as soon as possible. Resources available online include:
Preparemybusiness.org
The site sponsored in part by the Small Business Administration includes information on parts of disaster planning like ensuring that company records are backed up at a remote location, and creating a plan to communicate with staffers. It also has tips for planning and recovering from specific types of disasters, including floods. For that, it suggests being cautious even where floodwaters have receded, disinfecting anything that got wet and checking on whether the water supply is safe for drinking.
SBA.gov
This includes information on disaster loans, which can be obtained by businesses and homeowners in places that have been declared federal disaster areas. Parts of Louisiana have already received disaster declarations.
FEMA.gov
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a Small Business Toolkit containing information on planning and implementing disaster plans.
III.org
The Insurance Information Institute, an industry organization, has information on the types of insurance business owners should consider buying. Owners should note that flood insurance must be purchased separately and is not included in standard business policies that cover damage from wind, rain, fire and other threats.
Readyrating.org
The American Red Cross has information and videos to help businesses assess their readiness in case of emergency.
GETTING CERTIFIED
The Small Business Administration has a new website, certify.sba.gov, for small companies that want to become federal contractors and participate in special contracting programs. The site is set up for companies that want to be certified as Women-Owned Small Businesses. The WOSB certification enables companies that are at least 51 percent woman-owned to be eligible for certain government contracting programs.
The site will be expanded by spring to include other contracting programs including the 8(a) Business Development Program aimed at economically and socially disadvantaged owners.