FEMA Tropical Storm Debby Recovery Update

                                                                                                                                                    

Tropical Storm Debby Business Recovery

This update was created by the Florida State Emergency Response Team(SERT) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It includes information on state and federal resources available to help Florida small business owners recover from Tropical Storm Debby.

Please forward this newsletter to your members and other contacts who may find the information helpful in their business’ recovery.

For questions or to unsubscribe, send an email to Philip.Strouse@fema.dhs.gov.

Low-interest Disaster Loans from SBA

Florida businesses affected by Tropical Storm Debby that have not applied for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration may be leaving critical recovery funds on the table. SERT, FEMA and SBA encourage businesses that have not yet applied to do so as soon as possible.

Businesses of all sizes affected by Debby in any of the 22 counties designated for federal assistance may be eligible for loans of up to $2 million.

Ø      Physical property damage loans are available for damaged or destroyed property including real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Ø      Economic injury disaster loans are available to provide small businesses with necessary working capital until normal operations resume. This type of loan is available whether or not physical damage occurred.

Ø      SBA offers interest rates as low as four percent for businesses and three percent for nonprofits with terms of up to 30 years.

Ø      The deadline to apply for physical property damage loans is Sept. 4, 2012. The deadline to apply for economic injury loans is April 3, 2013.

Individual homeowners and renters affected by Debby in the designated counties may also be eligible for SBA disaster loans. Survivors who received a loan application from SBA should complete and return it before Sept. 4.

Businesses and individuals may apply any of the following ways:

Ø       Online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Ø       By phone: SBA Customer Service Center, 800-659-2955.

Ø      People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-877-8339.

For more information, call the SBA Customer Service Center, send an email toDisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visit www.sba.gov.

Prepare Your Business for the Next Disaster

It’s important for businesses to prepare for the impact of the many hazards they face in today’s world including natural hazards like Tropical Storm Debby, human-caused hazards, such as  acts of terrorism and even technology-related hazards such as the failure or malfunction of systems, equipment or software.

Ready Business assists businesses in developing preparedness programs by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many types of hazards.

Go to www.Ready.gov/Business to learn more.

Get the Latest Recovery News

For the latest Tropical Storm Debby recovery information, a variety of resources are available:

·         Follow @FLSert and @FEMAregion4 on Twitter; 

·         Visit www.Facebook.com/floridasert and www.FloridaDisaster.org; and

·         Go to www.FEMA.gov/disaster/4068. 

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