NC OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Disaster recovery assistance for business
owners impacted by Hurricane Florence
Check back often as this website will be
updated as information becomes available
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FIRST STEPS TO BUSINESS RECOVERY
| 1. | Contact your insurance carrier to file your claim. If you are leasing business space, ensure that your lease owner has contacted their insurance carrier. Take pictures of the damage. |
| 2. | Register with FEMA. Once a federal disaster declaration has been made for your area (check here for a list of declared counties, we update it daily), contact FEMA by phone or online at http://www.fema.gov to report any loss. FEMA will take your information and provide you with a registration number. For business losses, 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 assistance centers that are established after a federal disaster declaration has been made. These centers have staff from both FEMA and SBA and oftentimes other state resources. We update our list of locations regularly as more recovery centers open across the region. These centers are often busy, so if you are able to register by phone or online, we recommend that. (If you want to learn what other resources are available, you may want to visit a center directly.) SBA also has Business Recovery Centers (BRC’s). These locations are staffed by SBA staff only. Often less busy, but they only handle SBA loan applications.
| 3. | Contact the North Carolina SBTDC near you for assistance in developing your overall recovery plan. Our organization has been helping small and mid-size business in NC for 35 years. Our counseling staff can help you:
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| 4. | If needed, apply for a Resilient Recovery Loan. Click here to apply. Resilient Recovery loans are Thread Capital’s new long-term loans designed to meet the extended challenges faced during a business’s disaster recovery, including repairing physical damage and recouping from more significant economic losses. Resilient Recovery loans are designed to ensure the business is fully stabilized and is able to handle future economic shocks. Terms are up to $250,000 for up to ten years. |
| 5. | If needed, apply for an SBA disaster loan. SBA provides low interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profits. SBTDC counselors can assist you in preparing your loan package which often requires some homework on your part – gathering documents and tax records, etc. SBTDC counselors can also help evaluate your ability to repay a loan and help you make good decisions for your recovery. There are two types of SBA disaster loans: (1) physical damage; and (2) economic injury. Apply online, visit an SBTDC office, or visit a recovery center in your area. |
| 6. | Keep a cool head. You may hear rumors about grants for individuals or businesses. This is common after every disaster and often leads people to delay their own recovery plans. There are NO grants. There is only hard work, good decisions, ingenuity, good advice from experienced professionals and loan programs. Be proactive, be patient and be persistent in pursuing your recovery. It’s a long road. However, local, state and federal partners work closely to provide as much assistance as possible. |
Business Recovery Intake Form
BUSINESS RECOVERY COUNSELING
The North Carolina SBTDC has a long history of assisting businesses with disaster recovery. Contact one of the SBTDC offices in your area to obtain no-cost assistance to:
- Assess the financial impact on your business
- Develop strategies for your recovery
- Reconstruct financial statements
- Evaluate options with creditors
- Prepare SBA disaster loan applications
DECLARED COUNTIES
The following counties have been declared eligible for federal disaster assistance. Once declared, businesses and non-profits in adversely affected and contiguous counties that have been impacted by Hurricane Florence will be able to apply for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The two types of loans consist of Business Physical Disaster Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Physical Damage and Economic Injury
The following counties are eligible for Business Physical damage and/or Economic Injury disaster loans from the SBA: Anson, Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Chatham, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Greene, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Union, Wayne and Wilson
Economic Injury Only
North Carolina: Alamance, Cabarrus, Caswell, Dare, Davidson, Edgecombe, Franklin, Forsyth, Granville, Martin, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nash, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Stanly, Tyrrell, Wake and Washington
South Carolina: Chesterfield, Dillon, Horry, Lancaster and Marlboro
Check back frequently for the most up to date list of federally declared counties.
TYPES OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Hurricane Florence Resilient Recovery Loan
Resilient Recovery loans are designed to ensure the business is fully stabilized and is able to handle future economic shocks. As such, eligibility for funding is contingent on documentation of storm damage from a declared natural disaster.
Get more information on the Hurricane Florence Resilient Recovery Loan »
SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans
Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
Get more information on Business Physical Disaster Loans »
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
Get more information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans »
Make sure to review the fact sheet on loan requirements and interest rates » (Spanish ver)
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Workers who became unemployed as a direct result of the effects of Hurricane Florence impacting North Carolina, may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program. Business owners affected by the storm may also qualify for benefits.
Get more information on Disaster Unemployment Assistance »
Disaster Recovery Contracting Opportunities
Disaster recovery operations need vendors that can clear debris, provide facility support services, furnish necessary supplies, and much more. Different aspects of the recovery operations may be led by the federal government through FEMA, state government emergency response programs, city or county emergency response programs, or non-profit organizations like the American Red Cross.
Get the checklist for working as a contractor in disaster recovery »
Register for an upcoming webinar on Disaster Recovery Contracting »
RECOVERY CENTERS
FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC's)
Disaster Recovery Centers(DRC's) are staffed with representatives from FEMA, and U.S. Small Business Administration(SBA) and often other state agencies such as housing and mental health assistance. Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates about applications.
Cumberland CountyCLOSED |
Pamlico CountyGrantsboro Town Hall |
Onslow CountyNext to Don Williamson Nissan |
Beaufort CountyBobby Andrews Center |
Jones CountyCounty Civic Center |
Carteret CountyBoard of Elections |
Brunswick CountyVirginia Williams Event Center, Odell Williams Aud |
Harnett CountySenior Corps Building |
Craven CountyCLOSED |
Duplin CountyWallace Presbyterian Church |
New Hanover CountyCLOSED |
Lenoir CountyKinston Diagnostic |
Bladen CountyCLOSED |
Hoke CountyMeeting Place |
Hyde CountyHyde County Schools, O.A. Peay School Site |
Pender CountyCaswell Presbyterian Church |
Sampson CountySampson County Government Complex |
Scotland CountyParks & Recreation |
Wayne CountyTC-Coley Building |
Carteret County (Mobile Unit Location)New Port Town Hall Parking Lot |
Columbus CountyColumbus County Farmers Market |
Please check back often for more information about the location
of Hurricane Florence recovery centers.
SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRC's)
Business Recovery Centers(BRC's) are specialized for business assistance only. These are staffed by SBA representatives who can help you apply for your disaster loans.
Pitt CountyCLOSED |
Craven CountyCLOSED |
Robeson CountyCLOSED |
New Hanover County1 Estelle Lee Place Closed on Sundays |
Bladen CountyCLOSED |
Carteret CountyCLOSED |
Cumberland CountyCLOSED |
Johnston CountyCLOSED |
Onslow CountyCLOSED |
SBTDC Locations
The SBTDC is here to help small businesses get back on their feet by developing strategies for your recovery, reconstructing financial statements, and reviewing your SBA loan application.
Call 800-228-8433 to schedule a free, confidential appointment with an experienced business counselor.
Hours
Monday - Friday: 8am to 5pm
Elizabeth City1704 Weeksville Road |
Fayetteville1200 Murchison Road |
Greenville300 East First St, Willis Bldg |
Nags Head2522 S. Croatan Hwy, Unit 1-A |
Pembroke202 Main Street |
Raleigh1021 Main Campus Dr. Ste 200 |
Wilmington803 S. College Rd, Suite A |
Elizabeth City1704 Weeksville Road |
Fayetteville1200 Murchison Road |
Greenville300 East First St, Willis Bldg |
Nags Head2522 S. Croatan Hwy, Unit 1-A |
Pembroke202 Main Street |
Raleigh1021 Main Campus Dr. Ste 200 |
Wilmington803 S. College Rd, Suite A |
Elizabeth City1704 Weeksville Road |
Fayetteville1200 Murchison Road |
Greenville300 East First St, Willis Bldg |
Nags Head2522 S. Croatan Hwy, Unit 1-A |
Pembroke202 Main Street |
Raleigh1021 Main Campus Dr. Ste 200 |
Wilmington803 S. College Rd, Suite A |
HELPFUL LINKS
- NC Emergency Management - ncdps.gov/florence
- Transportation - ncdot.org/traffictravel
- NC Department of Insurance - ncdoi.com
- Federal preparedness and recovery website - Ready.gov
- SBA Disaster Preparedness - agilityrecovery.com
- Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety - DisasterSafety.org
- Recovery Guides and Resources - sbpusa.org/start-here
- NC Department of Public Safety Public Housing - www.ncdps.gov
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - www.usda.gov
PARTNERS
The University of North Carolina – Small Business & Technology Development CenterDirect one on one counseling assistance to businesses seeking general recovery guidance and federal disaster recovery loans. |
Economic Development Partnership of North CarolinaInformation on resources and referrals through its BLNC call center and Regional Industry Managers in each of the state’s eight Prosperity Zones. |
North Carolina Community Colleges – Small Business Center NetworkCommunity outreach, information and workshops on the business disaster recovery process and resources. |
US Small Business AdministrationLonger term loans to cover costs of physical damage and economic injury to businesses. |
Thread CapitalThread Capital, the small business lending arm of the NC Rural Center, offers Hurricane Florence Resilient Recovery Loans designed to meet the extended challenges faced during a business’s disaster recovery, including repairing physical damage and recouping from more significant economic losses. |
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Disaster Recovery Centers and online tools to provide information and resources to affected businesses. |
North Carolina Department of Commerce – Employment Security DivisionNC’s administrator of the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program. |
The University of North Carolina
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North Carolina Community Colleges
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Thread CapitalThread Capital, the small business lending arm of the NC Rural Center, offers Hurricane Florence Resilient Recovery Loans designed to meet the extended challenges faced during a business’s disaster recovery, including repairing physical damage and recouping from more significant economic losses. |
North Carolina Department of Commerce – Employment Security DivisionNC’s administrator of the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program. |
Economic Development Partnership of North CarolinaInformation on resources and referrals through its BLNC call center and Regional Industry Managers in each of the state’s eight Prosperity Zones. |
US Small Business AdministrationLonger term loans to cover costs of physical damage and economic injury to businesses. |
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Disaster Recovery Centers and online tools to provide information and resources to affected businesses. |
NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
5 West Hargett Street, Suite 600, Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 715-7272 | www.sbtdc.org
The SBTDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.