With an already tight freight market, shippers should prepare for hurricane season year-round. As we know, when it comes to keeping your small business shipping smoothly, it’s essential to have a plan, including a disaster preparedness plan. Many things could potentially slow or even halt your normal shipping operations, so planning for disasters and other problems helps you mitigate supply chain disruptions and keep your shipments moving as close to schedule as possible.
So, what can shippers do to prepare for hurricane season?
Understand the Impact of Hurricane Season
Not only does a storm impact the area where it is making landfall, but it also affects the surrounding area and the supply chain of these communities. Disruption to a supply chain can cause a ripple effect affecting more than just those hit by the hurricane.
Prepare by Remaining Aware
Identify what parts of your supply chain could be at risk. Staying informed about severe weather and its impact on your supply chain can help minimize disruption and the effect on your operations. In addition, knowing where your shipments are in relation to the storm is key to avoiding problems with things like shipping temperature-controlled freight, which is time-sensitive and may need to be rerouted to avoid possible road closures and other disruptions.
Storm & Hurricane Season Prep for Shippers
Start with some key pieces as you put together your disaster preparedness plan:
– Budget: Update or revise your budget to manage unexpected events. You may incur added costs, and planning ahead will allow you to be more flexible.
– Warehouse Network: Your warehouse partners may be affected as well. Plan and develop relationships with multiple warehouse partners to have an extra solution ready should your facility be at-risk.
– Insurance: Make sure you are covered. Understand what you have, what you may need, and what is covered. Learn about freight insurance and how it can work for you.
– Leverage other modes: When storms pose a threat, rerouting cargo to its delivery point via different freight modes, such as rail or air, may be a viable option to avoid delays that trucks may incur.
– Customers: Alert customers to possible delays resulting from hurricanes, storms, or flooding. Consider scaling up on customer service reps to assist customers during this time.
While these don’t cover everything that should be included in your plan, starting with these key points can protect your shipments, help things run smoother, and make sure your customers’ needs are met.
We’re Here to Help Shippers Prepare for Hurricane Season
As a FEMA-approved transportation service provider, FreightCenter can plan, manage, and execute shipping services for bulk supplies; we can also help your business or organization move products away from danger zones. Our agents are ready and dedicated to assisting with all relief effort shipments that need priority attention. Some of these essential items include food, water, batteries, flashlights, generators, personal care items, temporary shelters & tents, and more.
We can help you respond quickly to natural disasters with the ability to distribute much-needed supplies to areas affected. Learn more about how we can help with disaster relief shipments.
