Produced by BizVid Communications, a San Diego video company, their recent SBA Radio broadcast offered solutions to businesses who have been set back by hurricane Sandy. Ruben Garcia is the San Diego and Imperial County Small Business Administration District Director. As the guest expert of the radio show, he brought on SBA’s disaster relief spokesperson and SBA Public Affairs Specialist, D. Jelani Miller. Miller offered funding solutions for families and small businesses that have lost property,  resources and revenues in the storm’s aftermath.

Mr. Miller is responsible for providing SBA Disaster Assistance information to congressional offices, federal representatives, state offices, local agencies, the media and most importantly, to disaster victims.

During the SBA Radio interview, two main contacts were offered as helpful resources to business and residential storm victims.

According to an SBA.gov website, the Office of Disaster Assistance’s mission is to provide low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.  SBA’s disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector disaster losses.  For this reason, the disaster loan program is the only form of SBA assistance not limited to small businesses. Disaster Assistance has been part of the agency since its inception in 1953. Click here for more details.

While the SBA also offers disaster assistance to individuals, Jelani Miller recommended that the first step in those instances would be to contact FEMA. According to the FEMA website, Immediately after the declaration, disaster workers arrive and set up a central field office to coordinate the recovery effort. A toll-free telephone number is published for use by affected residents and business owners in registering for assistance. Disaster survivors should contact FEMA at (800) 621-FEMA (3362). Disaster Recovery Centers also are opened where disaster victims can meet with program representatives and obtain information about available aid and the recovery process.