Disaster Assistance

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Disaster can strike at any time, and even the most prepared businesses and business owners can be adversely impacted. If your business has been impacted by a disaster, assistance may be available.

Disaster assistance is money provided to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed following a declared disaster; and whose losses are not covered by insurance. Loans may be available to businesses that have suffered an economic loss as a result of the disaster. Assistance is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the SBA, the Farm Services Agency (FSA) and state governments.

The types and levels of disaster assistance available depend on the severity of the damage and the declarations that result from the disaster event.

There are essentially three types of declarations: a governor's proclamation that allows state agencies wide latitude to provide assistance and relaxes contracting requirements; a Small Business Administration disaster declaration that provides limited loan assistance to individuals and businesses following smaller events; and, a Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster or Disaster Emergency that involves a response from both state and federal resources.