CFO Jeff Atwater Prepares Small Business Owners for the 2013 Hurricane Season

TALLAHASSEE – May 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater’s Department of Financial Services is hosting a series of free disaster preparedness webinars for small business owners as a part of Small Business Week, which began on May 19, and ahead of the start of the 2013 Hurricane Season. The webinars are part of CFO Atwater’s “Protect Your Home Base” initiative and are aimed at helping small businesses plan and prepare for a natural disaster.

“As a business owner, you wear many hats and are focused on several different aspects of your business,” CFO Atwater said. “The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster. The impact of a natural disaster can be devastating, and I urge you to protect your home base and prepare today.”

Webinar topics include ensuring proper insurance coverage for your business, conducting a vulnerability analysis, hardening your business to withstand a storm, and recovering after a storm hits.

The webinars will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m.; Wednesday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m.; and Thursday May 23 at 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.MyFloridaCFO.com/YMM.

The Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services website offers videos, brochures, resources and tips on a variety of insurance topics along with a Disaster Preparedness section that includes a home inventory checklist. Consumers can also call the CFO’s Consumer Helpline at 877-MY-FL-CFO (877-693-5236) for more information. Should a tropical storm or hurricane take aim at our state, the division will activate a special consumer helpline, 800-22-STORM, to assist victims with insurance matters.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official, oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Atwater’s priorities include fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government; reducing government spending and regulatory burdens that chase away businesses; and providing transparency and accountability in spending.

Contact:
Anna Alexopoulos
(850) 413-2842