WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As those living near the Gulf of Mexico and along the Eastern Seaboard prepare for another Atlantic Hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through November 30, the U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses, homeowners and renters nationwide to write down their emergency preparedness plan before disaster hits. Regardless of where you live, it's a good idea to be ready for any kind of crisis. "Every threat, from wind storms, floods and wildfires, to power outages and computer system failures, reminds us to be proactive when it comes to building strategies to survive a disaster and recover quickly," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. "The catastrophic events of the last few years demonstrate the need for preparedness at the individual level, to diminish the risk to life and property." In the aftermath of last year's Midwest Floods, and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike—which pounded parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas last summer—the SBA approved more than 23,000 disaster loans for a total of $1.2 billion.
