This year, hurricane season is expected to last until November 30th, as hurricanes are forecasted to reach Category 4 storm levels throughout the Texas and Louisiana gulf coasts. The UH SBDC Network encourages you to take the precautionary steps necessary to ensure the health and safety of your team, as well as support business continuity and resiliency after the storm passes.
Here are tips and resources you can use to prepare your small business for a natural disaster:
Creating a disaster preparedness plan, along with proactive decision-making, can set your business up for employee safety, reduced loss, and an accelerated recovery phase. Below are five steps you can take to be fully prepared:
Proactive risk management includes tracking any nearby storm activity and staying up to date on all local emergency alerts. Use these resources to stay aware of any natural disasters that may directly affect your business, employees, and customers.
Prepare your small business for hurricane season. These resources will help you prepare for a hurricane’s effect on your business, employees, and community by highlighting activities you should undertake before, during, and following the event.
Use this guide to help you create a plan that will prepare for a natural disaster and enable business recovery.
This checklist will help you prepare for a hurricane’s effect on your business, employees, and local community.
Use this checklist to identify what needs to be done, and where to start on an action plan to prepare for a disaster.
Read these ten hurricane preparedness tips for small businesses that will help you prepare for Hurricane Laura.
Watch free UH SBDC Network webinars aimed at providing disaster preparedness guidance during COVID-19.
Small business resources to minimize the impact of a disaster on employees, property, and operations.
Texas Dept. of State Health Services has a step-by-step guide on what to do during, before, and after a hurricane.
Determine your personal risk for a hurricane, and learn about evacuation zones and updating your insurance.
Develop a business resiliency plan to quickly recover operations during the aftermath of the storm. This may include requesting an appointment with a COVID-19 Business Specialist and applying for state or federal disaster recovery assistance. Use the resources below to help draft a plan for business continuity and enable operational security after the disaster.
Read through our blog posts to explore further tips and resources for disaster preparedness for your small business.
Hurricane Preparedness Business Tips
Assess Your Business’s Hurricane Readiness
10 Storm Preparedness Tips for Your Small Business
Step-By-Step Guide: How to Build a Business Recovery Plan
The Department of Homeland Security provides ample resources for business owners seeking guidance on hurricane preparedness and business recovery. Use these resources to prepare your business for emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, cyberattacks, and more.
Hurricane Toolkit
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Inland Flooding Toolkit
Inland Flooding Toolkit - Spanish
Business Emergency Preparedness
Business Impact Analysis
The University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is committed to supporting small business owners who are facing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit our one-stop-shop for COVID-19 resources and assistance.
The Paycheck Protection Program, by the Small Business Administration, is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.
Note: Current law dictates that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) close at the end of August 8, 2020. As such, SBA is no longer accepting PPP applications from participating lenders.
Click Here for UH SBDC live and recorded webinars on the Paycheck Protection Program.
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners and non-profit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). EIDL is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation to health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.
SBA resumed accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications on June 15 to all qualified small businesses, including U.S. agricultural businesses.
Click Here for UH SBDC live and recorded webinars on Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
While preparing for the event of an emergency, we encourage you to be mindful of all current CDC health guidelines for your employees and business. Here are strategies and guidance to help prevent workplace exposures to COVID-19, as well as resources for health and business continuity.