08/02/2024 by Christine Morris

Hurricane Season: Prepare for Potential Disruption

June 1st through the end of November is considered Hurricane Season for the Atlantic and Gulf Coast, with heightened chances of storms occurring from early August to October. According to the National Weather Service, there’s an average of six hurricanes each year, with two typically becoming major storms hosting winds of 110-plus mph.

Graphic that shows two calendars with months June to November to represent Hurricane Season. Below there are two circular icons representing storms with the statement "Average of 6 hurricanes each year" below one icon and then "Average of 2 becoming major storms with over 110+mph" below the second one. This information is sourced from the National Weather Service.

Even on its best days, the logistics industry is considered complicated. Throw a hurricane in the mix, and you can have straight-up chaos. Hurricane Season means supply chains should prepare for the worst in weather, like heavy rain, dangerous gusts of wind, limited visibility, and flooding. Shipping setbacks such as impassable roadways, stranded trucks and drivers, loss of cargo, and extended deliveries are just some of what can be experienced. Here’s what your organization needs to know to prepare during peak Hurricane Season so your company can avoid delays and a loss in revenue.

Supply Chain Tips for Peak Hurricane Season

Stay Informed

A hurricane’s path and level of impact can change very quickly. It’s crucial you stay informed of potential storms that could impact your supply chain during Hurricane Season.

Set up alerts to be notified of newly formed storms and hurricanes. When a potential storm is in your path find a trusted weather news source and check it often for updates. Don’t just follow the updates before the storm, but also during and after. You may also adopt and use advanced weather tracking systems to get up-to-date information to make informed, real-time decisions.

Maintain Communication

Graphic with a black rectangle in front of teal background with a slightly darker triangle pattern. In the black rectangle reads in white text "Regular updates on potential disruptions and recovery efforts can go a long way in maintaining strong business relationships."

Natural disasters, like hurricanes, can have a huge impact on your company’s supply chain. An easy way to stay ahead is to be transparent and communicate openly throughout. Transparency builds trust and helps manage expectations during a crisis.

If a potential hurricane threatens your business, acknowledge it immediately. Then, start communicating with your customers and partners about the potential effects. Regular updates on potential disruptions and recovery efforts can go a long way in maintaining strong business relationships.

Have an Emergency Plan Ready

You should have a company-wide plan that outlines its actions during a hurricane. Your emergency plan should include important details like;

an evacuation route for buildings affected

a crisis communication plan

assigned employee emergency roles and responsibilities

instructions on how to protect inventory and equipment

where emergency supplies are located and how best to use them

how capable facilities will support when others are affected

When planning, make safety your company’s top priority during a hurricane. Once established, your plan should be reviewed often and updated as needed to ensure it remains effective. Additionally, running practice drills can help everyone know their roles and responsibilities.

Consider Alternatives

Graphic with a black rectangle in front of teal background with a slightly darker triangle pattern. In the black rectangle reads in white text "Having room for flexibility and adaptability is key to minimizing disruptions."

Consider what alternative workspaces and methods of transport you could use in the event of a hurricane. Are there temporary warehouse solutions where inventory could be stored? Could intermodal replace a truckload shipment that’s in the path of the storm? Are there alternative routes? How can facilities outside of the storm’s path support those affected? These alternative options should be included in your emergency plan.

While you may not have all the answers when planning, the more you include, the quicker you can make strategic decisions when needed. Having room for flexibility and adaptability is key to minimizing disruptions.

Have Visibility in Your Supply Chain

Graphic with a black rectangle in front of teal background with a slightly darker triangle pattern. In the black rectangle reads in white text "A transportation management system can help you make quick decisions to reroute shipments, avoid affected areas, and keep your customers informed."

Visibility is needed now more than ever for supply chains. Having visibility not only helps you on good days but especially during hurricane season. 

A transportation management system (TMS) can provide the necessary visibility during a hurricane. It provides critical data about your shipments and orders in real-time, giving you an advantage should a problem arise. This can help you make quick decisions to reroute shipments, avoid affected areas, and keep your customers informed.

See how a TMS could help you

Think About Recovery

Graphic with a black rectangle in front of teal background with a slightly darker triangle pattern. In the black rectangle reads in white text "40% of businesses that must shut down for 24 hours after a natural disaster never open again." This statistic is sourced from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), almost 40 percent of businesses that have to shut down for 24 hours due to a natural disaster never open again.

Ensure your business won’t be in that 40 percent if it happens. Have a plan ready to roll for the aftermath of a hurricane. Prepare for the worst and then plan how to recover from it quickly. This will help prevent any potentially steep revenue loss.

Recovery Team, assemble! It’s time to identify the key employees and providers to get your business back to normal operations. An initial assessment will need to take place and your team’s sole responsibility should be to restore and resume processes. Having those alternative solutions and backup suppliers or providers will be handy here.

Weather the Storm with a Reliable Logistics Partner

A graphic on a blue background that reads "Weather the storm with Trinity Logistics. 45 years of experience. 24/7/365 support. Nationwide network of carrier relationships. Multiple transportation mode options. Customizable TMS solutions."

Sometimes, you just need extra help. A relationship with a reliable logistics provider, like Trinity Logistics, can help your supply chain overcome the threats of Hurricane Season.

Hurricanes can roll in a cloudy overcast of unknowns, but Trinity shines a light toward safety and security. We have over 45 years of experience helping thousands of supply chains through ups and downs. We thrive on problem-solving and handling issues like the ones hurricanes can bring. We also have a dedicated After-Hours Team to support and quickly resolve any potential challenges – no matter the time of night, holidays, or weekend.

Our nationwide network of trusted carrier relationships ensures your shipments arrive safely at their delivery locations. Additionally, multiple transportation options offer the flexibility to keep your goods moving. Lastly, we’ll help you find real-time visibility with our customizable Managed Transportation solutions. Our dedicated Team (comprised of six Regional offices across the nation) is ready to help you maintain continuity and resilience in your supply chain.