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The Association and state restaurant association partners offer links to resources to help communities prepare and recover from severe weather events
Restaurants are always among the first to respond to support hurricane-affected communities -- even when they're affected themselves. With hurricane season in full swing, and with Hurricane Dorian expected to affect several Southeastern states, our state restaurant association partners are working with their members as they prepare for hurricanes and gear up to help communities recover.
Small Business Administration SBA has several forms of financial assistance for disaster-affected small businesses. Resources range from working-capital loans to disaster-assistance loans. Interest rates can be as low as 3.3 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations. The SBA sets the amounts and terms, based on applicants' financial condition. Businesses can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other assets.
U.S. Department of Labor The DOL provides income and job assistance after a disaster. For more information, call 866-4-USA-DOL (866-487-2365). Disaster Unemployment Assistance Individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits may qualify for disaster unemployment assistance.
Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, closely monitors the progress of any hurricane and offers tips and tools to help with preparedness. >> FEMA's National Business Emergency Operations Center >> FEMA's Office of External Affairs, Jessi Nalepa, director
FloridaDisaster.Biz
Food safety tips for hurricane-affected areas
Emergency Lodging Assistance In response to hurricanes, FEMA activates the Emergency Lodging Assistance program. All lodging operators are encouraged to sign-up here. The ELA provides lodging reimbursement for pre-qualified individuals from designated disaster areas. FEMA created the ELA program to provide temporary shelter as a result of a federal disaster declaration.
Establishing a disaster communication plan establishes you as a good citizen and helps restore normalcy.
If your food inventory is exposed to severe weather, err on side of food safety.
With storm season underway, the Association offers tips to keep employees and guests safe.