Disaster Assistance for Business

 

Homeowners, renters, and business owners who had flood losses should call the FEMA registration line at:  1.800.621.FEMA (3362) for assistance on applications submitted for disaster aid (TTY 1-800-462-7585 or online at www.disasterassistance.gov).

 

Business Resiliency Webinar Business Resiliency Webinar

Are You Ready to Reopen if Your Business Experiences an Unexpected Event?

A free webinar was provided for Washington businesses on September 23, 2009. The webinar provided a roadmap for businesses on where to invest time and effort with the goal of being able to “bounce back” from a variety of unexpected events that might impact their business. A recording of the webinar is now available for viewing. For more information about the webinar please see our Business Preparedness page.

 

 

U.S. Small Business Administration

When the President declares a major disaster, the United States (U.S.) Small Business Administration (SBA) makes its low-interest loan programs available to qualifying businesses and private non-profit organizations that have suffered damages.  Businesses of any size may request an application for a low-interest loan by telephone immediately after the declaration.  SBA loan officers will be available at all Disaster Field Offices and Disaster Recovery Centers to provide one-on-one assistance.

Business Disaster Loans.  Small Business Administration disaster loans are available to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, and equipment, and other assets not fully covered by insurance.  These loans are available in the disaster declared counties.  Loans also are available to provide working capital during the disaster recovery period to small businesses in declared and contiguous counties.

Recovery Includes Restoring Economy.  Since the floods of November 1995, the Small Business Administration has approved more than $250 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses.

Internal Revenue Service

Tax Relief in Disasters - Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the president declares their location to be a major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS may grant additional time to file returns and pay taxes. Both individuals and businesses in a presidentially declared disaster area can get a faster refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on the tax return for the previous year, usually by filing an amended return.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Farm Assistance.  U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency emergency loans may be available to farmers who were operating a farm at the time of a disaster.  Loans are limited to the amount necessary to compensate for actual losses to essential property or to production capacity.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Farm or ranch owners and self-employed persons may qualify for disaster unemployment, if they are out of work because of the disaster and are not covered by regular unemployment insurance.  This program is administered by the State Department of Employment Security, through the U.S. Department of Labor.  More than $2 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been disbursed to Washington State residents since the November 1995 floods.

National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program offers insurance for flood coverage.  Flood insurance is required for businesses and homes in a designated special flood hazard area. For more information see the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Program Manager at (253) 512-7028.