Big Businesses Helping Small Businesses After Hurricane Isaac

BATON ROUGE, La. – Small businesses in Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Isaac now have another way to get help with their recovery efforts.

The Big Business–Small Business Emergency Management Mentorship Program is available to pair up small-business owners with big-business mentors who will help them bounce back after the storm by providing guidance such as ways to rebuild and strengthen their facilities.

The program was created by the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the International Association of Emergency Managers.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LABEOC) and other organizations are supporting the effort by spreading the word in affected communities and parishes.

“This is a great, free resource for business owners who sustained damage during Isaac,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “We are proud to be part of the whole community team that is working to support people in Louisiana as they work to rebound from the storm.” 

The Big Business–Small Business Emergency Management Mentorship Program can also assist business owners in preparedness efforts, including developing an emergency plan of action, improving resiliency and developing the tools to recover from disasters.

To register for the program either as a mentor or protégé, visit www.disasterb2bmentor.org.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, go online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gove/blog.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.