Utah Small Business Disaster Recovery Resource Guide
Disaster impacted your business? Start here.
This guide helps Utah business owners identify recovery resources after a local disaster, including SBA disaster loans, Utah emergency management resources, business counseling, insurance documentation, and preparedness tools.

1. First steps after a disaster

• Make sure employees and customers are safe.
• Follow instructions from local emergency management.
• Take photos and videos of damage before cleanup.
• Contact your insurance carrier.
• Track lost revenue, extra expenses, closures, payroll impacts, vendor interruptions, and inventory losses.
• Save receipts for repairs, cleanup, temporary relocation, equipment rental, and emergency purchases.

2. Check whether assistance has been activated
Assistance often depends on whether there is a local, state, SBA, USDA, or Presidential disaster declaration.
Use these links:

• Utah Division of Emergency Management Recovery Portal
• Utah Disaster Declarations
• SBA Disaster Assistance
• SBA Recovery Center Locator
• FEMA Utah Page
• DisasterAssistance.gov

3. SBA disaster loan options for businesses
Physical Disaster Loans
SBA Physical Disaster Loans may help repair or replace disaster-damaged business property, equipment, inventory, and other physical assets.
Who may qualify:

• Businesses of any size
• Private nonprofit organizations
• Applicants located in a declared disaster area
• Applicants with physical damage caused by the disaster

    Link: SBA Physical Damage Loans

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
Economic Injury Disaster Loans may provide working capital when a declared disaster causes financial injury, even if the business did not suffer physical damage.
Funds may help cover:

• Payroll
• Rent
• Utilities
• Accounts payable
• Fixed debt payments
• Other ordinary operating expenses

Who may qualify:

• Small businesses
• Small agricultural cooperatives
• Most private nonprofit organizations
• Businesses located in a declared disaster area
• Businesses directly impacted by the disaster
• Businesses unable to meet financial obligations or regular necessary operating expenses because of the disaster

     Link: SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans

SBA Utah District Office
The SBA Utah District Office serves the entire state of Utah and can connect business owners to SBA programs, lenders, resource partners, and disaster recovery assistance.
     Link: SBA Utah District Office

4. Utah business counseling and recovery help
Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Utah SBDC provides free consulting, training, and resources to help Utah entrepreneurs and small businesses.
How the SBDC can help after a disaster:

• Review cash flow
• Prepare financial records
• Organize loan documentation
• Evaluate recovery funding options
• Build or update a business continuity plan

     Link: Utah SBDC

5. Preparedness and continuity planning
Be Ready Business
UtahBe ReadyBusiness is Utah’s private-sector preparedness program and encourages businesses to develop emergency response and continuity plans.
Link: Be Ready Business Utah
Ready.gov Business Continuity Planning
Ready.gov provides federal guidance for building a business continuity team and continuity plan.
Link: Ready.gov Business Continuity Planning
SBA Recover from Disasters Guide
SBA provides guidance to help small businesses plan for and recover from disasters.
Link: SBA Recover from Disasters

6. Documentation checklist
Gather and save digital copies of:

• Business tax returns
• Profit and loss statements
• Balance sheets
• Payroll records
• Insurance policies
• Lease or mortgage documents
• Inventory records
• Vendor invoices
• Utility bills
• Photos and videos of damage
• Repair estimates
• Receipts for cleanup and emergency purchases
• Records of closure dates, lost sales, canceled orders, or reduced operations

7. Quick decision guide
Did the business suffer physical damage?Start with:

• Insurance claim
• Photos and repair estimates
• SBA Physical Damage Loans

Did the business lose revenue or become unable to meet expenses because of the disaster?Start with:

• Sales records before and after the event
• Payroll, rent, utilities, and debt payment records
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans

Need help figuring out what applies?Contact:

• Utah SBDC
• SBA Utah District Office
• Local county emergency management
• Local chamber or economic development office

8. Local assistance
For local help, contact:
Tooele Technical College Business Resource Center
Jess Clifford
Business Advisor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 435-248-1892
Website: Tooele Business Resource Center
Schedule to meet with Jess by: Phone, Online, In-Person

Important note
Disaster assistance rules, deadlines, covered counties, and available programs change by disaster. Business owners should verify current declarations, deadlines, and eligibility through SBA, Utah DEM, FEMA, and local emergency management before applying.