Disasters can wipe out a small business in seconds. To help protect small business owners, SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA) provides affordable, timely and accessible financial assistance to homeowners, renters, and businesses. These SBA low-interest, long-term loans are the primary form of federal assistance for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector disaster losses. To read more about how SBA can help with a loan after disaster strikes, please see our information about disaster loan types. Additionally, SBA's disaster assistance program focuses on teaching small business owners how to be better prepared to handle disaster.  Being prepared for an emergency is a crucial factor in determining how quickly and easily a business can bounce back if a disaster hits. The materials and resources we have provided on emergency management can help small businesses make plans to recover from financial losses and business interruption, and to protect their employees, the community, and the environment.

SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance also runs several Disaster Field Offices that are well equipped to help you after a disaster. These offices not only are great resources for general information on disaster loans and emergency preparedness, but they are also the best source for updated information on topics including open disaster declarations, recovery center locations, and disaster loan application deadlines by region.  To view the most current disaster press releases, click here.