What is the new claims-filing protocol for the Gulf Coast Claims Facility?

Administrator Kenneth R. Feinberg released the “Emergency Protocol” guidelines to answer questions about the fund including the required proof and information that the claimant should submit.  The guidelines have been established to assist claimants in filing claims for costs and damages incurred as a result of the oil spill resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Incident of April 20, 2010.  The new fund will be to get emergency six-month payment checks out the door, within 24 hours for individuals and no more than seven days for businesses.
Gulf Coast Claims Facility Website
Press Release regarding GCCF Protocol for Emergency Advance Payment
Gulf Coast Claims Facility: Protocol for Emergency Advance Payments
Claims Fact Sheet for Non-Profit and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's)

What kind of assistance can I get for my business?

Business owners adversely affected by the recent Deepwater BP Oil Spill can apply for SBA disaster loan payment deferrals and SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which cover economic damages to their businesses. Businesses can receive disaster loan assistance and confidential business consulting at no cost to the owner at ASBDC Locations throughout Alabama.  Contact the ASBDC at 1-877-825-7232 for additional assistance.

• Applying for low-interest SBA disaster loans, economic damages to their businesses.
  For more information about federal diaster loans visit www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.          
  You can apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
• Cash flow projections for disaster loan packages and to determine if your business will have a positive cash flow
• Assessing business economic injury
• Determining other sources of financial assistance besides the SBA Disaster Loan program
• Evaluating the financial strength of your business
• Reviewing your options before you make a final decision on your busines  

Are there any guides available that I can download and refer to?

•  BP Claims Process Overview and Forms (23 pages)
• Oil Spill Recovery Resources (175 pages)
• BP Claims Process - Detailed Information and Forms (150 pages)

Where are the ASBDC Service Centers?

ASBDC consultants offer individual consulting to assist you with the economic recovery of your business.  A map of our 10 locations statewide is available here.
ASBDC consultants are frequently on road, visiting one-on-one with companies. Call us anytime to schedule an appointment: 1-877-825-7232. When you meet with an ASBDC employee, you are talking with a Certified Business Counselor from a nationally accredited program.

Companies in Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, and Escambia counties should contact:

University of South Alabama SBDC
Mr. Thomas Tucker, Director
307 University Blvd.
8 College of Business, MCOB Room 118
Mobile, AL 36688
251-460-6004
www.southalabama.edu/sbdc

Companies in Covington and Geneva counties should contact:

Troy University SBDC
Ms. Sandra Lucas, Director
100 Industrial Blvd.
Troy, AL 36081
334-674-2425
cibed.troy.edu/sbdc

Companies in Clarke County should contact:

University of West Alabama SBDC
Mr. Donald Mills, Director
Guy Hunt Technical Complex, R122
Station 35
Livingston, AL 35470
205-652-3665
www.sbdc.uwa.edu

Where are the BP Community Outreach Centers?

The BP Community Outreach Centers are responsible for assisting Alabama residents and businesses with any information and/or assistance on the Deepwater Horizon incident.  These offices are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

Mobile County -- Phone: 251-382-6878
2430 Bienville Blvd -- Dauphin Island, AL 36528

Baldwin County -- Phone: 251-382-6202
1506 North McKenzie St (Highway 59), Suite 104 -- Foley, AL 36535

Where are the SBA Recovery Centers in Alabama?

Baldwin County/Gulf Shores
Harry Roberts Community Center
300 East 16th Street Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Language:  Primarily English, some Spanish

Mobile County/Bayou LaBatre
Bayou LaBatre Community Center
12745 Padgett Switch Road
Irvington. AL 36544
Language:  Primarily English, Cambodian, Vietnamese and Laotian

Business Support Center (Various resources located in one place)
Faulkner State Community College Campus
Highway 59 Room 105
Gulf Shores, AL 

Which counties are eligible for assistance?

The 8 Counties in Alabama include: Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Covington, Geneva, Washington, Clarke, and Monroe.

How do I submit a claim?

Click Here, or call 1-800-440-0858 to obtain a BP claim number.
The claims phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Download an overview of the Damage Claims Process.

Where can I find a BP claims office?

Mobile County (Bayou LaBatre)  13290 N. Wintzell Ave – Bayou LaBatre, AL 36509  Mobile County (Mobile)  325 East I-65 Service Rd. S, Suite 1 – Mobile, AL 36606 Mobile County (Dauphin Island)  1008 Alabama Ave – Dauphin Island, AL 36528 Baldwin County, Foley (Orange Beach/Gulf Shores/Bon Secour)  1506 North McKenzie St. (Highway 59), Suite 104 – Foley, AL 36535
Baldwin County (Gulf Shores/Orange Beach) Perdido Beach Blvd., Suite 1 – Orange Beach, AL 36561

BP has established a new claims office in Foley, AL. The office hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The address is 1506 N. McKenzie, Suite 104, Foley, AL. The toll-free number for claims continues to be 1-800-440-0858

Where else can I find more resources?

BP's Alabama Gulf Response website
Facebook:  BP America
Twitter: @BP_America
YouTube:  BPplc

Information on EPA Coastal Water Sampling

Office of Governor Bob Riley

Alabama Gulf Response

Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Alabama Department of Public Health Baldwin County, Alabama

City of Fairhope  |  Mobile Chamber  |  Dauphin Island  |  Baldwin County

Offshore Alabama  |  Deepwater Horizon Unified Command

DisasterAssistance.gov  |  USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs

NOAA/EPA Mapping  |  Contracting Opportunities with BP

Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information:  (866)-448-5816
Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511 Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system:  (281) 366-5511 Submit a claim for damages:  (800) 440-0858
RReport oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401 and leave a message. Tri-State Bird Rescue will check messages hourly.

How can I prepare for a disaster?

You can significantly increase your business survival after a major disaster if you plan for business continuity. Of the businesses that close following a disaster, 43 percent never reopen. Don't let your business become another statistic. 

As you create your disaster plan consider the following points:

• Protect your family and employees with personal disaster plans.
  Your most important asset is your family and your employees. Do you and your employees have a personal family disaster preparedness plan? Consider the different ways you can help your employees return to work quickly. Can you offer carpooling, provide emergency housing for displaced employees, provide short-term financial aid, or even childcare on site? 
• Protect your place of business, contents, inventory, production process, and critical documents. 
  Identify all the critical processes, documents, contents and resources you need to reopen your business at your current location or at a recovery site. Be sure to back-up all your critical documents and store them in an alternative location at least 50 miles from your business. Think about alternative suppliers and vendors you can use. Involve them in the planning process. Make sure you have adequate insurance. Do you have business continuity insurance? Most small businesses can not survive a work stoppage of more than a few weeks. You can even get lower rates on your insurance by creating a disaster plan. 
• Create an emergency communication system to keep employees, vendors, and key customers informed. 
  Be sure you have emergency contact information for all your employees, critical vendors, key customers, and local authorities and keep everyone informed during an emergency. You may want to set up a remote voicemail box, or post information on a website, or set up a phone tree. Planning for any eventuality is critical to recovering quickly from a disaster.
• SBA Offers Free Webinar and Web Chat to Encourage Disaster Preparedness Planning for Business Owners.  See calendar, June 22 & 24.

How can I volunteer?

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND INFORMATION

Do I have to pay income taxes on money I receive from BP?

Yes.  For answers to questions on income, lodging, and sales taxes, as well as deduction of losses due to the spill, please refer to the AL Dept of Revenue site:
http://ador.state.al.us/oilspill.html

And the Internal Revenue Service:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=224886,00.html?portlet=7

Can I be reimbursed for accounting fees incurred as part of the BP claims process?

Yes.  Many ASBDC clients and other coastal businesses incur additional accounting costs in their attempts to organize information and file claims with BP. Companies have the ability to recover accounting fees associated with their BP claims. Any accountant can assist a company with their claim and that company can seek reimbursement for those accounting fees.  The ASBDC can provide you with a list of accountants on the gulf coast that can provide additional accounting assistance if needed.  Call us at  877-825-7232