WASHINGTON – This month, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, is encouraging small businesses to take proactive steps to safeguard their operations from potential natural disasters. This year’s theme is “Prepare Now, Recover Faster.”
“As the frequency and intensity of natural disasters rise due to climate change, it is more critical than ever for Americans to be prepared,” said Administrator Guzman. “This Disaster Preparedness Month, we encourage all small businesses, homeowners, renters, and non-profits to take advantage of the SBA’s resources to create emergency response plans so that they can recover more quickly when disaster strikes, minimizing disruptions in communities and the economy.”
With a wide range of resources and support services, the SBA is committed to helping businesses and communities across the country prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected events. Homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes are eligible for SBA assistance and can learn more here and by utilizing the Business Resilience Guide.
“A natural disaster can occur anytime, anyplace, and climate change has only added to the problem,” said Francisco Sánchez Jr., Associate Administrator of SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “That’s why it is important to remember that proper planning and preparation can mitigate a disaster’s impact. ‘Prepare Now, Recover Faster’ highlights the benefits that preparedness offers – that putting in the work now can lead to a quicker recovery and a return to normalcy later.”
In 2023, the SBA lent nearly $3 billion to disaster survivors nationwide – including over $670,000 for small businesses and over $2.3 million for homeowners and renters – to help them recover from the financial and physical impacts of manmade and natural disasters. Currently, the SBA is responding to 34 disaster declarations across the country.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.