In January 2011, intense and concentrated rain raised floods and slidings reaching seven cities of the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro, which is considered the biggest disaster ever happened in Brazil. This tragedy served as lessons learned for changes in the disasters risk management in the country. This study innovates in researching the impact on the private sector in the cities affected. Humanitarian logistics, which function is to adequate the flow of material and personal in time to relief operations, is relevant for private sector as it can minimize the impacts of disasters and develop resilience in supply chains. According to the disaster operations life cycle – mitigation, preparation, response and recovery – this study aims to evaluate how the private sector in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro was impacted by the 2011 disaster and how businesses are getting prepared to avoid future emergence situations affect its operations. Based in a model questionnaire, successfully applied in disasters in New Zealand, a survey research is conducted in the private sector of the cities affected and two case studies are carried out. The findings of this research point to the need of planning in the private sector due to the recurrence of this kind of event in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.