Business Report
With flood waters receding, many homeowners and renters in the Capital Region are heading back home to survey their damage and to start the cleanup process.
Daily Report has compiled a list of tips and other resources to help guide you through the process.
Assessing and documenting damage:
- Kevin Harris Architect has published a blog post about what you should do after the flood. The tips include: using apps to add date and time stamps to photos and videos documenting flood damage, as well as double checking with your insurer and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the different documentation needed for different claims. Read the full post.
- If you’re looking for information about the National Flood Insurance Program, you can find FEMA’s Flood Insurance Claims Handbook online. The handbook provides guidance on what to do immediately after a flood. It also advises you to separate damaged from undamaged property, make a list of damaged contents, and not to throw anything away before an adjuster sees it, unless you are legally required to do so. Read more.
- FEMA also provides a tip sheet for filing your insurance claim.
Guidance for dealing with contractors
- The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors is urging customers to protect themselves from unlicensed individuals offering to make home repairs. Consumers can verify the licensure of contractors by either calling the LSLBC at 1-800-256-1392, by downloading the free “La Contractor” mobile app or by visiting the LSLBC website.
- The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office published the Consumer Tips for Natural Disaster Victimsguide, which includes tips about reporting price gouging, dealing with pest control, donating to charities and auto repairs. It also includes a model contract.
Help for businesses
- Louisiana Economic Development has a Flood Recovery Assistance page with resources for impacted businesses.
- The Louisiana office of the National Federation of Independent Business website includes tips and a list of resources to help small businesses, farmers, ranchers and families recover from the flooding.
- The Baton Rouge Area Chamber has compiled a list of available workspaces for displaced organizations. View the list and get information on other resources and opportunities to help those impacted by the flooding.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has published a Small Business Expanded Guide that includes links to a disaster recovery guide for businesses, information about tax relief in disaster situations and a community economic recovery guide. View the complete guide.
- Kean Miller has started a South Louisiana Flooding legal resource page on the firm’s blog. The resource page explores issues regarding property taxes, tenant and landlord obligations and employment issues.
- The Occupational Safety & Health Administration offers post-flooding cleaup guidelines.
Help for those without flood insurance
- For affected properties in a declared federal disaster area, the first step is registering with FEMA. You can call 1-800-621-FEMA or visit www.disasterassistance.gov to sign up. The sooner you register, the better.
- DisasterAssistance.gov also has a lengthy list of links for moving forward after a flood. The list includes a section on what financial assistance is available. On that page, scroll to the “Your Finances, Job and Insurance” section for more info on various types of assistance available.
- The Small Business Administration offers several types of disaster loans, including home and property loans and business physical disaster loans. Home and property loans may be available to people even if they don’t own a business, the SBA says. Find out more here.
Daily Report also has compiled a brief list of charities collecting money and items for flood victims. Attorney General Jeff Landry has also issued a list of tips for those interested in donating to GoFundMe campaigns.