I love living in Philadelphia. But when people ask me if there's any other place in the U.S. I'd like to live, my first choice is always the same: Asheville, N.C.

It's a beautiful town in a beautiful state. It has culture, nature and commerce. The autumn there is, in my opinion, better than New England. Its summers are never as hot as Florida's, its winters never as cold as Illinois's. Asheville has been booming over the past decade, and there's good reason why.

If you're a small-business owner in Asheville, unfortunately, you're reeling right now. Hurricane Helene has wreaked damage on Asheville not seen in recent memory. We've all looked at the photos. People lost their lives. Homes have been carried away. Countless small businesses have been destroyed or damaged.

What’s next?

You will apply for insurance. That means contacting your carrier, getting a visit from an adjuster, and providing photos and documentation about your business. You will be filling out the forms and then waiting for approval, and then payment. The time this takes varies, but typically a check can come within 30 to 90 days.

In the meantime, there's individual aid from FEMA and resources from your state, which also received federal emergency funds. Many businesses will get federal loans through the Small Business Administration. These are low interest loans — the only loans the SBA actually extends — and are used for losses not covered by insurance or funding from FEMA for both personal and business, as well as to cover business........

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