Disaster Recovery News

Unexpectedly high rainfall caused water damage to businesses in the Riverdale -area of South Boston, Virginia.

As the banks of the Dan River rose, business owner held their breath. Some businesses reported to have up to 12″ of water, others close to 30″. WSET.com reports that some owners felt lucky that they planned ahead for the flooding, while others are hoping the mud and waters did not permanently ruin their electronic equipment. Halifax County Emergency Services are assisting business owners with surveying the damage.

There are the have and have-nots in the business world: those that have prepared, and those that have not and wish they did. Those who run enterprises, big or small, need to be ready for the worst when it comes to disaster preparedness. Check out these tips on how to be prepared for a flood.

Those who wish they had prepared can follow these tips to recover after a flood.

Much of the southern United States got more than a little wet today when 6-8 inches of rain poured down. Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida were the states majorly affected, but Alabama, Georgia, and Florida were the hardest hit.

Many roads and homes in low areas got flooded. The National Weather Service states that some of the rivers affected will remain flooded into next week. Flood watches are in effect for the eastern part of the United States from Florida up to parts of New England.

Business in this area can contact a flood recovery company that can help them get back up and running if they have been affected by the flooding.

Learn more about recovering after a flood.

A Back to Business Workshop sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and Safeguard Iowa will be held today, June 26, from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. The Workshop has been developed to provide information and resources to assist businesses impacted by the floods. Experts and professionals will provide discuss such topics as funding, insurance, doing business with contractors, information for impacted employees, safety and health considerations, rebuilding; avoiding scams and preparing for the future.

Several local, state, federal and private sector agencies will participate in the workshop, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Small Business Administration (SBA); the United Way of East Central Iowa; the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce; the Cedar Rapids Downtown District; the City of Cedar Rapids; Linn County; the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED); Iowa Workforce Development; the IRS; the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Iowa Finance Authority.

The workshop is free, but registration is required. The event will take place at the Coe College campus, Peterson Hall located on College Drive.

Call the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber at (319) 398-5317 or e-mail jstow@cedarrapids.org