With a focus on business continuity, the U.S. Small Business Administration on Jan. 17 will host a free webinar on disaster preparedness.

SBA has partnered with Charlotte, N.C.-based Agility Recovery Solutions to present the webinar for small businesses. Midstate businesses were hit particularly hard by the September flood from Tropical Storm Lee.

As of Jan. 11, the SBA has approved the following business disaster loans in the midstate in connection with the Lee flood damage:

• Cumberland County: Two business loans totaling $27,300.
• Dauphin County: 19 business loans totaling about $2.3 million.
• Lancaster County: Seven business loans totaling $167,300.
• Lebanon County: 14 business loans totaling about $1 million.
• York County: 10 business loans totaling about $1 million.

Statewide, the SBA has approved 162 business loans for Lee damage totaling $14,715,300. Factoring in home loans, the total to date is more than $77.2 million, SBA spokesman Mary Cook said.

The Insurance Information Institute reported insured losses of $35.9 billion from a series of U.S. natural disasters, which also included spring tornadoes in the Midwest, floods in the Southeast and wildfires in the Southwest.

Agility President and CEO Bob Boyd will discuss new trends and technology that affect disaster preparedness. The webinar, which is scheduled to run from 2 to 3 p.m., also will offer practical strategies to protect businesses from closing their doors for good after a disaster.

Some business continuity strategies also are available at www.preparemybusiness.org. The SBA provides disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses of all sizes.