When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in August 2005, it devastated thousands of businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi, including Loop Linen Service in Westwego, LA, located roughly 15 miles west of the “Big Easy.” Loop President Scott Burke vividly recalls those difficult early days without power and a wind-damaged plant.

“We had structural damage here, and no electricity, but we did not flood,” Burke says, speaking of the aftermath of the hurricane. “What did happen, is we lost all our business. We have a plant. Once the electricity was turned on, a month later, we had seven employees come back ...