Incoming! As Tropical Storm Erika Looms, Small Businesses Prepare

By Joshua Sophy It s been a relatively tame tropical storm season in the Atlantic Ocean but Tropical Storm Erika is making a late-August run at the Southeast U.S. Some tracks have the storm on a path to collide with the southern tip of Florida — and potentially move into the Gulf of Mexico — by early next week. That potential has prompted Florida s Small Business Development Center to issue a warning to companies in the state: Get prepared. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that 25 percent of small businesses never reopen in the wake of a natural disaster, like a hurricane or tropical storm. Some suggest that rate could be even higher, though it all likely hinges on the severity level of the storm. In preparation for such extreme weather emergencies, the federal agency recommends businesses: Determine which of your business systems are mission critical, Develop an emergency communications plan to keep your people connected. Confirm that your business systems are tru
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