Disasters can happen all year long, particularly in the northeast. This time of year, all eyes are on disturbances in the lower Atlantic. But fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and flooding from thunderstorms are also a threat. Any one of them could impact your company.
Snow/Winter
The New York area is no stranger to snowy winter weather, but sometimes the snow and ice are a lot more than normal. That’s when it can become a disaster.
This March, the New York area was hit by four Nor’easters, bringing as much as 18” of snow, and temperatures that never got above 32F.
In 2014, an unusual cold wave froze the entire US all the way down to the Gulf Coast. The wave also brought unusually heavy snow to the NY/NJ/PA region. Cheetowga, NY received an amazing 65 inches, but nearby Buffalo only measured six. The warming trend that followed quickly melted the heavy snow, bringing the risk of flooding.
Hurricanes
The New York area has seen nearly as many hurricanes as the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 re-defined the term “disaster.” Confluence from a Nor’easter and a full-on Category 5 hurricane from the lower Atlantic caused widespread flooding, power and Internet outages for more than 9 million people. Storm surges destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. New Jersey alone suffered losses of $30 billion.
But Sandy wasn’t the only hurricane to cause havoc in the New York area. In the last five years, the area has been targeted by several storms of varying degrees, causing flooding, wind damage and other associated damage:
- Tropical Storm Phillippe and Hurricane Nate, October 2017
- Hurricane Maria and Tropical Storm Jose, September 2017. (Maria is the storm that also destroyed Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.)
- Tropical Storm Cindy, June 2017
- Hurricane Matthew, October 2016
- Hurricane Hermine, September 2016
- Tropical Storm Bonnie, May 2016
- Tropical Storm Bill, June 2015
- Hurricane Arthur, July 2014
- Tropical Storm Andrea, June 2013.
But it doesn’t take a named storm to create a natural disaster. Even a severe sudden storm can bring heavy rain and hail. These can cause flooding, mudslides and other damages. Lightning from thunderstorms is responsible for more deaths every year than hurricanes.
Hurricane season started before June 1 this year with Subtropical Storm Alberta. If you haven’t already reviewed your business continuity plan, start now, before the next storm. FEMA’s website also has available resources to help.
Fire
The FunTown Pier in New Jersey suffered flooding during Sandy, destroying everything. After rebuilding more than 50 businesses following Sandy’s devastation, fire destroyed everything a second time, just a year later. An investigation discovered that electrical wiring that was damaged by the floodwaters started the six-alarm fire that wiped out the FunTown Pier.
Is Your Business Continuity Plan Current?
Make sure that your business is prepared by including Specialty Fuel Services in your business continuity plan. SFS can help make sure your vehicles, generators and other machinery are operational. We’ll set up your emergency fuel delivery service that’s available with just a phone call. Call us at 1-866-445-5508, email us at [email protected], or use our online contact form. With centrally located with strategic fuel reserves throughout the US, Specialty Fuel Services can deliver emergency fuel and equipment to the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas.