Blizzards.  Hurricanes.  Floods.  Wildfires.  No matter the season, an extreme weather event or natural disaster could be right around the corner.  And when – not if – an emergency happens, you may need to make critical decisions for your business, fast.  Scammers know it's the perfect time to strike.  Is your business ready?  If you don’t already have a weather emergency plan, today’s the day to make one.  The FTC has websites in English and Spanish to help you get started.  There, you’ll find resources for planning before an emergency occurs, as well as advice on how to spot, avoid, and report scams during disaster recovery.  Here’s some advice for small business owners:

Have a plan in place.  Before disaster strikes, be sure to:

• Train your staff.  Share information from the FTC, SBA, DHS, and IRS with your employees so they’re ready to protect your business and their families.
• Consider physical safety.  How will you keep your employees and facilities safe?  Do you have an evacuation plan?  Do you have emergency contact information for every employee?
• Make a payroll contingency plan.  Even if your employees can’t work during disaster recovery, you still may need to pay them.  Know the laws that apply and be prepared.  Back up your payroll information and be prepared with alternative payment methods if your checks and direct deposit are not available.
• Back up and protect your data.  What would happen if an emergency destroyed your devices or paperwork?  Have you backed everything up?  Are you keeping your data secure?
• Review and update your insurance policy.  Hopefully you won’t need to make a claim, but make sure you know what’s covered and what isn’t.
• Find help.  Make a list of trusted contractors you can call for help with different problems that could arise.  The time to get recommendations and do your research is before the emergency.

Learn about common scams.  There are certain post-disaster scams we see every time.  The best way to protect yourself – and your employees – is to learn about them now so you’re ready to spot the signs.

• Clean-up and repair scams.  Anyone who promises immediate clean up and debris removal, especially if they’re trying to rush you or demanding full payment upfront, is probably a scammer.
• Scammers pretending to be the government.  Scammers posing as government officials may demand your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number to receive assistance.  FEMA and SBA don’t charge application fees.  If someone asks for money to see if you qualify for government funds, it’s a scam.
• Disaster-related charity scams.  Scammers will often try to make a quick profit from the misfortune of others, and community-minded small businesses are a prime target.  Don’t be rushed or pressured into giving, especially over the phone.  Research any charity that contacts you and check its website for details about its mission and programs.  If you find negative reviews or discover the charity’s website has limited information about what it does, be suspicious.
• Housing and rental scams.  Anyone in need of temporary shelter should be aware of rental listing scams.  Steer clear of people asking you to wire money or requesting security deposits or rent before meeting or signing a lease.
• Job scams.  If you or your employees take on temporary employment, look out for job scams.  Remember, an offer of temporary employment that promises someone they can make (1) a lot of money in (2) a short period of time with (3) little work is almost certainly a scam.

Help your community plan.  As a small business owner, you know your neighbors and can make a real difference in your community.  Want to help get information on disaster scams to the people who need it?  Our website makes it easy with resources you can share, including a downloadable handout in more than a dozen languages to customize and share – plus plenty of social media shareables ready to go.  And if you see suspicious conduct targeting consumers or businesses, tell us about it at: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.