Our hearts are with all of the communities and businesses dealing with recent damage, destruction, and disruption. If you are a small business owner affected by the storms, ASBTDC is here to help. Our Fayetteville office services Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Washington Counties. You will find ongoing resources, contact information, and tips for disaster recovery below.
Benton County Disaster Recovery Centers
Paneitz Student Center | Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
1211 SE Eagle Way | Room SC108
Bentonville, AR 72712
7 AM – 7 PM Monday – Sunday
Bilingual Services Available at this locations
World Trade Center Arkansas
3300 S. Market Street | Suite 400
Rogers, AR 72758
8 AM – 5 PM Monday – Friday
8 AM – 1 PM Saturday
Five Things to do After a Disaster
1. Contact your insurance carrier to file a claim. If you are leasing commercial space, ensure that the building owner has contacted their insurance carrier. Take pictures of damage.
2. Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (only for personal property)
- Once a federal disaster declaration has been made for our area (this can take several days post-disaster), contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency by phone or online at www.fema.gov to report any loss. FEMA will take your information, provide you with a registration number and mail applicable loan applications to you.
- FEMA Phone Registration 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 (speech & hearing impaired).
- You can also visit a FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in your area. DRCs are temporary mobile assistance centers and are established after a federal disaster declaration has been made. Check with us or your local news source for information about times and locations.
3. Contact Us. Contact the University of Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center for assistance with:
- Financial Assistance Guidance:
- Provide information on available disaster relief funds, grants, and loans, including SBA disaster loans.
- Help you understand the application process and requirements for financial assistance.
- Disaster Recovery Planning:
- Help you develop a comprehensive recovery plan to get your business back on track.
- Assist in identifying critical business functions and creating strategies to address them during recovery.
- Business Continuity Planning:
- Assist in developing or updating your business continuity plan to prepare for future disasters.
- Provide tools and resources to ensure your business can continue operating during and after a disaster.
- Market Research and Analysis:
- Conduct market research to help you understand the changing landscape and customer needs post-disaster.
- Provide data and insights to inform your recovery strategies and business decisions.
The UAF ASBTDC Office services: Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Washington counties.
- Phone Number: 479-575-5148
- Email: SBDC@uark.edu
- Request a consultation here
4. Contact the U.S. Small Business Administration to pursue low interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, non-profit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.
5. Complete SBA Applications. The SBA provides applications for the agency’s disaster loan program online, which offers:
- Business physical disaster loans of up to $2 million to cover uninsured or underinsured losses.
- Economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations.
- To obtain Disaster Loan Program information or to receive a status update on your loan request, call their customer service line at 1-800-659-2955 or email them at: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. You can also visit a FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in your area.
Additional Disaster Recovery Services:
Arkansas Emergency Management Association (AEMA)
- The Arkansas Emergency Management Association is dedicated to minimizing the impacts of disasters on communities and reducing the risk of loss of life and property through educational programs, training, and preparedness activities in the State of Arkansas.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- You can visit FEMA’s website here, or call them at 1 (800) 621-3362
Benton County Emergency Management
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- Visit https://bentoncountyar.gov/emergency-management/ to report personal property damage and get other helpful information.
- 479-271-1004
- Michael Waddle, Director of Emergency Management
Washington County Arkansas Emergency Management
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- Washington County Emergency Operations Center
479-444-1722
- Washington County Emergency Operations Center
Madison County Department of Emergency Management
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- Greg Wheller, DEM Coordinator
- 479-325-2976
- Macodem@madisoncounty.net
Carroll County Department of Emergency Management
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- Mike McKelvey – Emergency Management Director
- 870-423-9144
- carrollcountydem@carrollcounty.us
AID – Arkansas Insurance Department
Additional Information and Needs Prioritization:
Immediate Priorities:
1. Ensure Safety:
- Ensure the safety of yourself, your employees, and anyone else on the premises.
- Address employee concerns:
- Know if they are safe
- Check in on their families
- Let them know when you are planning to reopen
- Address concerns about work schedules and payroll
- Address any immediate health and safety risks, such as structural damages, gas leaks, or electrical hazards.
2. Emergency Contacts:
- Contact emergency services if necessary (fire, medical, etc.).
- Inform your insurance company about the damage as soon as possible to start the claims process.
- Reach out to local authorities or disaster relief organizations for assistance and information.
3. Documentation:
- Document all damages thoroughly. Take photographs and videos of the damage from multiple angles.
- Create a detailed inventory of damaged property and equipment.
- Benton County Residents can use the Benton County Citizen Damage Reporter portal to enter their estimated personal property structural damage.
- For any farmers in Arkansas suffering from land or property damage, Garrett advises you to contact the Farm Service Agency for assistance and to report any damage.
- Take inventory of spoiled food and goods due to loss of electricity/resources.
- Keep any receipts for purchases for potential reimbursements.
4. Secure the Property:
- If it is safe to do so, take steps to secure your property to prevent further damage or theft.
- Board up broken windows and doors and cover roof damage with tarps if necessary.
5. Notify Stakeholders:
- Communicate with employees about the status of the business and any changes in operations.
- Inform customers and suppliers about any disruptions to your services.
6. Inform Your Customers
- Let your customers know how you are and update them on the status of your business via social media, email newsletter, and Google Business posts.
- Update your Google Business hours accordingly. You can set Special Hours in the account to account for temporary closures or reduced hours.
- Keep customers updated on your re-opening plan.
Short-term Priorities
1. Insurance Claims:
- Work closely with your insurance company to understand the claims process and provide all necessary documentation.
- Keep records of all communications with your insurance company.
- Resource: Arkansas Insurance Department
2. Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Once a federal disaster declaration has been made for your area (this can take several days post-disaster), contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency by phone or online at www.fema.gov to report any loss. FEMA will take your information, provide you a registration number and mail applicable loan applications to you. For business loss, FEMA will refer you to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- FEMA Phone Registration 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 (speech & hearing impaired).
- You can also visit a FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in your area. DRC’s are temporary mobile assistance centers and are established after a federal disaster declaration has been made. Check your local news source for information about times and locations.
3. Financial Assistance:
- Explore available disaster relief funds and grants. This may include federal assistance programs such as those offered by FEMA or the SBA.
- Consider applying for disaster loans if necessary.
4. Temporary Operations:
- Evaluate the possibility of resuming operations in a temporary location if your primary location is heavily damaged.
- Look into short-term leases or coworking spaces if you need an alternative place to work from.
5. Business Continuity:
- Review and activate your business continuity plan if you have one.
- Focus on maintaining key business functions and services to minimize disruption.
Long-term Recovery
1.Repairs and Reconstruction:
- Obtain estimates and begin repairs as soon as possible, prioritizing critical infrastructure.
- Work with contractors and professionals to ensure quality repairs and adherence to building codes.
2. Review and Update Plans:
- After the immediate crisis has passed, review your disaster response and business continuity plans.
- Update these plans based on lessons learned to improve your preparedness for future events.
3. Community Support:
- Engage with your local community and support networks to aid in mutual recovery efforts.
- Participate in local rebuilding initiatives and disaster recovery programs.
4. Evaluate Financial Health:
- Conduct a thorough assessment of your business’s financial health post-disaster.
- Develop a financial recovery plan to address any revenue losses and additional expenses incurred during the disaster and recovery periods.
ASBTDC is here to help. Reach out to us with any questions you have so we can walk you through this process.