Get help from the U.S. Small Business Administration

The SBA plays an important role in helping individuals and businesses recover from disasters and has disaster recovery offices located strategically throughout the country.

I recommend: The SBA's Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center lists all disaster assistance center locations throughout the U.S.The disaster assistance FAQ section will answer most of your questions about who qualifies for loans, how to get the money, what it costs and what you can use it for in your business.

Get loans and other financial assistance for physical damage to your business

If your business incurred damage during a disaster, you can apply for a loan to help repair or replace damaged property to its pre-disaster condition.

I recommend: The SBA makes physical disaster loans of up to $1.5 million to qualified businesses.

Get money to cover 'economic injury' to your company

Small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives that have suffered substantial economic injury due to a physical disaster or an agricultural production disaster may be eligible for the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Substantial economic injury is the inability of a business to meet its obligations as they mature and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses.

I recommend: Check the details of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for small business.

Apply for SBA disaster loan assistance for your business

Small businesses can apply directly to the Small Business Administration for possible disaster assistance

I recommend: Download and print the necessary loan forms and instructions.

Arm yourself with other disaster response and preparation resources

Understanding how to prepare and recover from a disaster is important knowledge you should have access to.

I recommend: Ready Business is an excellent government-sponsored site with disaster preparation information. DisasterHelp.gov is a portal site for disaster assistance programs from the federal government. The Institute for Business & Home Safety has a very helpful site devoted to small business disaster protection with an excellent Getting Back to Business guide for small business following a disaster. CBS News Disaster Links lists hundreds of disaster-related Web sites.