08/12/2020 by Krista Lee
Hurricane Season: What You Need to Know
Even on the best of days, the supply chain is considered complicated. Throw a hurricane in the mix, and you have straight up chaos. From around June 1st through the end of November is considered Hurricane Season on the east coast. It is a time for supply chains to be prepared for disruptions in their day-to-day caused by flooding and high winds. Here are some tips about what your organization needs to know during peak hurricane season and how to prepare for a potential emergency.
Be Aware and Maintain Communication to Employees and Customers
Natural disasters can have a significant impact on the economy and your company’s supply chain. One way to minimize this impact is to maintain transparency and communication throughout all levels of the business. Be open with any customers and partners about the potential effects that a hurricane would have on your company.
Stay Informed
Additionally, a hurricane’s path and level of impact is subject to change very quickly. Make sure to frequently check and/or listen to your local weather station or channel for updates on an approaching hurricane before, during, and after the storm. It is very important to know your risk of hurricanes based on your location and/or line of business.
Make an Emergency Plan
Always place safety as your company’s top priority during a natural disaster. Have a company-wide plan that outlines your organization’s actions during an emergency. Your plan should include an evacuation route, a designated safe area that is not subject to flooding to use as a shelter, and a method for communication with employees and customers for if you lose power.
Consider Alternatives
Make sure to consider alternative workspaces and methods of transport for your goods in the event of an approaching hurricane. At Trinity, we partner with over 70,000 carriers and communicate with our customers about the industry to ensure that we are delivering the best logistics solutions throughout a natural disaster. For more information and to prepare your Supply Chain for any kind of Natural disaster, click here.
Have Visibility in Your Supply Chain
Gaining visibility in your supply chain not only helps you go those good days, but even more so during a natural disaster. Being able to keep track of your shipments and orders in real-time can give you an advantage should a problem arise. See how a transportation management system can help you.
Consider the Aftermath
Make sure to have a plan ready to roll in the aftermath of a hurricane. Being prepared for the worst and knowing how to quickly easy recovery for your supply chain will help prevent steep losses in revenue.
Have Reliable Partners
Sometimes, you just need the extra help. Make sure you have relationships in place with reliable transportation partners who can help you recover should you get hit by a hurricane. Having a relationship with a third-party logistics (3PL) company is a good thing to have on your side. At Trinity Logistics, we have offices all throughout the U.S. with over 40 years of experience. We’ve worked through many chaotic situations and thrive on being problem solvers.
If you have any questions about how hurricane season could affect your organization, or are looking for a reliable partner to have on your side when hurricane season strikes, chat with one of our experts today!
Originally posted September 24, 2019. Updated by Christine Griffith.
