Hurricane Healing

Women business owners hard hit by hurricane Sandy on Fire Island, New York, are getting ready for the summer season.

Rachel Doering, of the popular bakery and restaurant by her name, is posting her business permits on new wood paneling – that, along with counter tops, four stoves and seven refrigerators, had to be replaced after last year’s storm.

“Next year we’ll raise the building. It could happen again,” Doering tells PINK over a cup of black coffee.

But the kindergarten teacher turned business owner, learned something from the worst weather disaster to hit the island since 1938.

You can rebuild.

“I had no choice. What can you do,” she says.

Doering took out a four percent SBA loan she’ll pay off over the next 30 years.

“I never had insurance. I do now,” she adds.

Above all, she also realized this is what she was meant to do.

When a deal to sell the place following the storm fell through, she realized how much she’d miss “the people who work for me, my customers, the life here.”

Doering’s pleased her customers will soon enjoy their favorites again – chocolate chip cookies and crumb cake, as usual this season.

“I feel lucky,” Doering tells PINK.

How can fans help? “Just come and eat.”

Bonus PINK Link: How one woman’s love for small business changed her life.

Has your business bounced back from nature’s fury?

By Cynthia Good

“Luck to me is … hard work – and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.” Lucille Ball