Are you currently experiencing an emergency? Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or have a serious injury or medical condition.

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) can support your business before, during, and after an emergency or other disruptions to your operations:

• Emergency Preparedness – Take action to prepare your business for emergencies
• Emergency Response – Get immediate help during a real time emergency
• Emergency Recovery – Get your business up and running again after an emergency

Emergency Preparedness

Apply for a Free Risk Assessment and Receive a Grant to Protect Your Business
Your business may be eligible for an on-site, one-on-one risk assessment. A team of emergency planning and insurance experts will come to your business and review your physical space, operations, and insurance coverage. The team will make recommendations to help you reduce your risk of in the event of a disaster or disruption. Businesses that receive an assessment can receive a grant of up to $3,000 to buy items recommended during the assessment, such as moveable flood barriers, flood pumps and portable generators.

To qualify, your business:

• Must be a Small Business Administration-defined small business operating in New York City.
• Was impacted by Hurricane Sandy due to flooding or power outage, and is still located in the storm’s inundation (flood) or power outage zone.

Apply Here
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Program Policies and Procedures (PDF)

Attend a Workshop or Webinar

From gas leaks and fires, to major storms and flooding, NYC business owners face a variety of unexpected emergencies. SBS offers free emergency preparedness workshops open to businesses across New York City.

You will learn how to:

• Stay in business: Identify your key business activities, employees, and documents
• Protect your investments: Understand how to protect your assets and navigate insurance
• Be ready for action: Create an emergency and business continuity plan for your business

SBS Emergency Planning Worksheets (PDF)

Emergency Response

SBS provides immediate assistance to businesses during a real-time emergency. Contact us at (212) 618-8810.

We can:

• Provide you with the latest emergency information on street closures, utilities disruptions, security and demolitions.
• Assist with retrieval of valuable items and documents from your business location (if safe to do so.)
• Coordinate with the NYC Police Department and other emergency responders to make sure your business location is secure and prevent losses.
• Connect you to local business organizations for possible relocation assistance.

Emergency Recovery

SBS provides assistance to businesses after an emergency.

We can:

• Connect you with community organizations that may help you identify the necessary steps to rebuild and recover.
• Connect you to recovery information and resources including business relocation assistance, help with insurance questions, free legal advice and financing assistance.
• Help troubleshoot government regulations and permitting questions with City agencies such as the NYC Department of Buildings, NYC Department of Health, NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, and many others.

Contact us for more information

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Additional Resources

• Learn more about emergency and business continuity planning
• Learn more about insurance considerations for your business
• The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) can help you secure the financing you need
• The U.S. Small Business Administration provides loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses following a disaster
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers disaster assistance