It is not a matter of if a natural disaster will strike, but when. More importantly but often overlooked, is what businesses should do to get ready for them. Weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, tornados and floods have the power to wipe out entire cities and leave communities with nothing in their wake. This creates significant economic losses for businesses, to the point where they may not be able to rebuild and are forced to close their doors or declare bankruptcy.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 75 percent of businesses without continuity planning will fail within three years of a disaster. Experts suggest that, due to climate change, natural disasters will be on the rise in the coming years, not only by number of events but also by intensity.
Did you know?
- In 2021, 20 weather and climate disasters each caused damages exceeding one billion dollars (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
- Hurricanes produce winds of up to 157 mph or greater and are the most damaging disasters (National Hurricane Center)
- The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports that in 2022 wildfires burned a total of 7,534,403 acres.
- Flash floods can bring walls of water 10-20 feet high, and cars can be swept away in as little as 2 feet of floodwater.
Investment in disaster preparedness goes a long way
That’s why it is more important than ever to be prepared for natural disasters. The United Nations reports that industry’s financial allocation for emergency response after a disaster strikes is approximately 20 times higher than for prevention and preparedness. US Ecology is reminding communities, residents and businesses to prepare and prevent to protect their assets.
Minimizing your operational impact is key to a faster recovery
Business continuity greatly depends on the preparation and emergency planning before a disaster occurs to limit operational impact. Minimizing interruptions ensures continued revenue, safety and income for your employees, and ultimately aids in the recovery of surrounding communities by upholding supply chains for necessary products and services.
There are many things business owners can do to prepare, including understanding the risk and what actions to take before, during and after a disaster. Selecting a response provider that customizes an emergency response plan that suits the needs of each organization is a critical step in the preparation process.
Response services for events of all sizes and scale
US Ecology, a Republic Services company, has over 30 years of experience as a nationwide emergency service provider. Responding to over 10,000 incidents annually, we are your partner to develop customized emergency response plans that minimize the impact on your organization. Our experts evaluate your business to assess risk, determine your resource requirements and develop a plan that puts procedures in place for how to best protect your assets, mitigate risk and liability and resume operations after an event.
In 2022 alone, our professional crews have responded to countless disastrous events, including Hurricane Ian, major wildfires that affected most of the western U.S. and large oil spills in locations across the nation. To protect structures and assets from approaching wildfire, a major transportation company asked us to develop a customized plan to put preventative measures in place. Our large, nationwide network of response locations allowed us to quickly mobilize large numbers of emergency response experts and resources and provide fast, efficient and compliant cleanup, removal and disposal services of hazardous materials. Our highest priority is to get customers back to business as fast as possible and to protect human health and the environment.
When disaster strikes, trust the number one response provider for over 30 years. Our professional crews are on standby ready to deploy the right resources to manage your response and recovery needs. We provide unequaled service and the convenience and reduced risk of one partner from start to finish. For immediate assistance call us 24/7/365 at (800) 899-4672 or learn more: https://www.usecology.com/service/disaster-response-and-recovery-services
