Despite the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina last year, most small businesses remain unprepared for natural disasters in the months ahead, according to a new survey of more than 500 small-business owners polled nationwide, 84 percent said they are not worried about storms, floods, earthquakes, or other natural catastrophes affecting their business within the next 12 months, according to the survey by Harris International for MasterCard.
Only a third reported being fully prepared, the survey showed.
Lacking the resources of larger firms, small businesses are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, said Bruno Perrault, the head of MasterCard's small- and midsize business division.
"For smaller companies located in a disaster zone, when their location is impacted, it means their entire business is hit," Perrault said.
Perrault joined other corporate executives at a panel discussion during the Small Business Administration’s annual expo earlier this month, focusing on the need for small businesses to make disaster preparedness part of their regular operations.

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