Hurricanes Fiona and Ian – Initial Disaster Assistance and Recovery Response

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this inspection report to present the results of our assessment of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) initial response to Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, including staffing adequacy, loan application volume, and timeliness of disaster loan approvals. We found SBA’s initial response to Hurricanes Fiona and Ian was timely and effective. The agency established a field presence within 3 business days and opened a Business Recovery Center within 10 business days for both hurricanes, meeting its strategic goal. Additionally, SBA successfully addressed initial staffing concerns and maintained adequate staffing levels throughout its response to both hurricanes. The agency reacted to anticipated resource needs by implementing a hiring initiative and providing advanced specialty training. These actions addressed a projected staffing shortfall, including the need for bilingual staff who were brought in to assist from other SBA offices.