Business owners in Hillsborough County, with a storm brewing on the horizon, are bracing for potential disruptions. Hillsborough's Local Stories Live event in July is tackling this issue head-on by preparing the local business community on the nuts and bolts of hurricane preparedness. With a focus squarely on pragmatic and actionable advice, the free event, slated Today at 9 a.m., seems it could be a lifeline for entrepreneurs wanting to weather the storm with their business intact.
Given that small business owners employ almost half of the country's private-sector workforce, the stakes could hardly be higher. When a hurricane strikes or merely threatens the speed at which these businesses bounce back has a measurable impact on the community's recovery. Remember, it's not just about the water receding and roads clearing, it's about people getting back to work and the local economy finding its feet again.
Industry experts are queued up to offer guidance at the event. Subjects on the agenda range from discussing evacuation plans with employees, managing payroll during business interruptions, to bulletproofing inventory plans. One key takeaway is the emphasis on insurance and safekeeping of vital documents, crucial steps for smoother sailings through the choppy waters of post-recovery forms and aid requests. A Hillsborough County, Florida Government news release detailed the resources and expertise that will be available, aiming to shore up local business resilience against natural disasters.
Featured speakers include Robert Pierce from the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, Sandra Atiles-Tyrrell of SAT Industrial Solutions, and Robert Brooks from TIG Insurance Services. With their different backgrounds, they bring a rich tapestry of experience and insight to the table. The driving goal of this assembly is to equip business owners with the necessary tools to stay afloat, literally and economically, when faced with a natural calamity.
