Resources

preparedness

Ready Rating by the American Red Cross

Ready Rating is a program that helps businesses, schools and organizations become prepared for disasters and other emergencies. All in one place, Ready Rating members have access to one-of-a-kind tools, resources and information for evaluating and improving their ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property. Whether you are taking your first steps or have a fully-functioning emergency management program, the Ready Rating program can help you achieve a higher level of preparedness.

The Ready Rating Program is a free service provided through a partnership between the American Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross.

Visit https://www.readyrating.us for details and to get started. Pro tip: once you've completed a Ready Rating self-assessment, register for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) program which provides $5,000 in immediate grant funding to small businesses when a qualifying disaster occurs in their state or territory. If you’ve already completed your Ready Rating self-assessment, you’re eligible to participate – you just need to register.

Financial Assistance

Small Business Readiness for Resiliency $5,000 Disaster Grant

The U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) program provides $5,000 in immediate grant funding to small businesses when a qualifying disaster occurs in their state or territory.

***This program requires registration prior to a disaster in order to qualify for the grant.***

SBA Disaster Loans

Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofits may be eligible for a low-interest disaster loan if they are located in a declared disaster area. These loans can help cover property damage, replace lost belongings, and pay for expenses not fully covered by insurance or FEMA assistance. For businesses, funds can also be used to cover operating expenses and keep things running during recovery. 

SBA disaster loans are designed to support both immediate recovery and long-term resilience. In addition to repairing or replacing damaged property, some funding can be used to make improvements that reduce the risk of future damage. You can check if your area qualifies, apply online, and track your application through the SBA’s loan portal. If you’ve experienced losses, this is often one of the most flexible and affordable forms of federal disaster assistance available.

See the SBA Disaster Declaration Search page to check if your area is covered by a current disaster declaration. Pro tip: when you get to the page that asks for the date of the disaster, you do not have to enter one - simply click Continue and you'll be shown any of the active disaster declarations covering your area.

USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool

The Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool uses your answers to five questions to identify USDA disaster assistance programs that might meet your business needs. 

This page was last updated 3/26/25.