U.S. Chamber Foundation spotlights small business disaster preparedness gap

By AI, Created 4:31 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – New survey data released at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 2026 Building Resilience Conference shows most small business owners believe they can recover from disaster, but many lack basic plans and cash buffers. The findings underscore a widening risk for employers that make up nearly half of U.S. jobs and a large share of GDP.

Why it matters: - New national data points to a gap between small business confidence and actual disaster readiness. - The risk matters beyond individual firms because small businesses employ nearly half of the American workforce and contribute 43.5% of U.S. GDP. - Disasters are becoming more frequent, severe and economically disruptive, raising the stakes for recovery planning. - When small businesses cannot bounce back quickly, employees lose income, customers lose service and communities lose economic stability.

What happened: - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation held its 2026 Building Resilience Conference on May 5-6 in Washington, D.C. - The conference theme was “Strengthening America for the Next Generation.” - During the event, the U.S. Chamber Foundation and Verizon announced a strategic partnership. - The organizations also released preliminary survey findings on preparedness among America’s 33 million small businesses. - Natasha Broxton, founder and CEO of Select Auto Parts & Sales and founder of Alitura Group, took part in a panel moderated by U.S. Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President Marc DeCourcey. - The panel was titled “Powering Small Business Success Through Resilience.”

The details: - Preliminary survey data showed 94% of small business owners believe they could recover from a disaster. - 69% said they do not have a disaster plan. - 36% said they could not continue paying employees beyond one month after a disaster. - 65% said they have never sought preparedness assistance. - Federally declared disasters have increased nearly 90% over the last decade. - The Readiness for Resiliency program provides preparedness resources and recovery grants for small businesses affected by disasters. - Verizon will expand support for the program under the new partnership. - The program has already supported nearly 5,000 businesses nationwide. - Select Auto Parts & Sales operates Milwaukee’s only fully indoor auto recycling facility. - The company runs from a 125,000-square-foot facility and combines recycled auto parts operations with systems-driven business practices.

Between the lines: - The data suggests many owners are treating resilience as personal confidence rather than a documented business function. - Broxton said many small businesses rely on “tribal knowledge, memory, and manual processes,” which leaves firms vulnerable when disruption hits. - The conference discussion shows preparedness is expanding beyond emergency response into communication systems, operational workflows, financial readiness, staffing continuity and access to recovery resources. - The broader framing points to resilience as a national infrastructure issue, not just a local business concern.

What’s next: - Verizon’s expanded support should help scale the Chamber Foundation’s preparedness and recovery efforts for small businesses. - The conference focus suggests more attention will shift toward practical systems that reduce owner dependency and improve continuity. - Small business leaders are likely to face growing pressure to formalize disaster plans before the next disruption arrives. - Broxton’s work through Alitura Group continues to center on operational modernization and resilience strategies for founders and small business owners.

The bottom line: - Small businesses are confident they can recover from disaster, but the new data shows many are not actually ready.