Natural Disasters
View the 2022 MEMA Disaster Guide
Has your Business been Affected by a Natural Disaster?
Contact us at disaster@mississippisbdc.org or call us at 1-888-572-6829 for assistance and support as your business recovers. Want to be prepared for a disaster to strike? Download our business resiliency guide for proactive resiliency steps.
Why do you need a disaster plan?
Running a small business is hard enough without having to rebuild after a natural disaster. Many businesses all over the world make the mistake of not properly preparing for disasters and are left to suffer the costly consequences. However, small business disaster preparedness planning is easier than you might think. We scoured the internet and interviewed risk management experts to bring you the best tips and resources, so you can finally check “disaster plan” off your to-do list.
A good disaster plan means fewer days out of business, better communication with customers, and a better settlement from your insurance company. Add it all up and your plan could be the reason your small business beats the odds.
Step 1: Identify Risk
Which of these large-scale disasters is a threat to your business?
- COVID-19
- Hurricanes
- Winter weather
- Earthquakes
- Tornadoes
- Wildfires
- Floods
Step 2: Develop a Plan
The goal of a disaster plan is to help ensure the well-being of your employees, the stability of your location’s environment and, last but certainly not least, your ability to keep the business running. That may mean you need a 100-page guide, or you may just need a simple series of reference sheets.
Step 3: Implement and Train
A disaster plan isn’t something you dust off when the red warning stripe comes across your TV screen. You’ll have action items as soon as your plan is complete. The idea is to identify things you can do now so you won’t have to do them in the days or hours before a natural disaster.
Step 4: Be a preparedness leader in your community
In a natural disaster, you may be at the mercy of your least-prepared neighbor. The unsecured restaurant patio umbrella that comes flying through your window or the hazardous materials that floodwaters carry into your parking lot might not be a threat if you were in charge of them, but you aren’t. And the longer your community takes to get back on its feet, the longer you’re likely to wait for business to ramp up again.
(Information above taken from business.com)
Current SBA Disaster Relief Information
Hurricane Ida
The State of Mississippi was granted a Pre-Disaster State of Emergency Declaration. We will keep you informed as further information becomes available!
- Hurricane Ida: Pre-Disaster State of Emergency Declaration
- Louisiana Disaster Declaration
- Economic injury loans are available in these counties: Amite, Hancock, Marion, Pearl River, Pike, Walthall & Wilkinson.
- Hurricane SBA Disaster Information
- SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Mississippi Businesses and Residents Affected by Hurricane Ida
- SBA Physical Disaster Loan Deadline Approaching in Mississippi for Businesses and Residents Affected by Hurricane Ida
Tornado Relief
Jackson Water Crisis
Northeast Mississippi Droughts
Helpful Emergency Management Links: