Small Business Spotlight: Importance of disaster preparedness

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In the bosom of Old Town Pasadena, you'll find Amara Chocolate and Coffee, known for their Venezuelan flair of flavors.

"In Amara Chocolate and Coffee, we connection Venezuelan nutrient and of course, we person a afloat paper with Arepas cachapas," says proprietor Amara Barroeta. "We're precise good known for our blistery cocoa and coffees, of course."

Though not successful an evacuation zone, fires raging successful Southern California forced the concern to adjacent for respective days.

Barroeta says they didn't suffer their business, but they inactive mislaid income.

Since getting the all-clear from the wellness section to reopen, they've seen hardly 40% of the lawsuit basal instrumentality arsenic galore of their regulars were impacted by the fires.

Amara says they're navigating adjacent steps arsenic galore of the catastrophe alleviation loans and grants are for rebuilding efforts.

"We didn't person immoderate benignant of carnal damage, but we are precise affected due to the fact that the assemblage has been wholly displaced from the area, and past concern successful wide has been disrupted," she said.

The LA County Economic Development Corporation says astir 1,900 businesses were perchance impacted by the fires.

CAMEO Network CEO Carolina Martinez says successful summation to low-interest SBA loans for those with spot damage, economical wounded catastrophe loans activate during emergencies arsenic well.

"These supply moving superior to assistance tiny businesses impacted by a catastrophe past until mean operations resume," she said.

CAMEO Network is simply a assets for tiny businesses and non-profits offering assistance from coaching to capital.

While information is ever apical of mind, Martinez says catastrophe preparedness goes beyond having an evacuation plan, a database of exigency contacts and backups of important documents.

"Is the concern insured? Do you person a fiscal program successful spot successful lawsuit of an emergency," she said.

Both national and authorities catastrophe declarations person freed up fiscal aid, but Martinez says much backing needs to go disposable for tiny businesses.

"Gov. Newsom enactment astatine a $2.5 cardinal betterment package," she said. "Unfortunately, determination is not overmuch determination for tiny businesses. We are urging, close now, California State legislators to bring much resources to the tiny businesses that are affected."

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