The Power of Nature: A Look Back at a Turbulent Week in Houston

Hey everyone,

May gave us a powerful reminder of just how strong and unpredictable nature can be. An unexpected tornado warning and the events that followed showed us how crucial it is to be prepared for anything—especially for companies that want to produce and sell in the USA.

The Challenges of a Natural Event

On Thursday, I received a tornado warning on my phone while I was in a public building. The wind was howling against the walls, and the power went out. It wasn’t until the storm calmed down that I could drive home and see the extent of the damage. Many streets were flooded, and it was pure chaos. When I finally got home, our parking garage was without power and damaged.

Impact on Infrastructure

The next morning, as I headed out, I could see the full extent of the destruction: fallen trees, torn fences, and damaged power lines. One side of our house’s roof had collapsed, leading to flooding. Our apartment complex was without power for several days. Despite the difficulties, I made my way to our new GETT.AMERICA facility to make sure everything was okay there. The drive was challenging, with many obstacles blocking the roads. When I arrived at our new facility, I found uprooted trees and a torn fence. The building itself was intact but without power and air conditioning.

A Silver Lining Amid the Chaos

But there was a surprising twist: Despite all the chaos and difficult circumstances, our supplier managed to deliver our first shipment on time. The driver skillfully navigated his truck through the traffic chaos. This delivery was a small milestone for us, and we were overjoyed and relieved that everything went smoothly. A huge thank you to the driver, who handled this challenge with remarkable dedication and professionalism.

These events taught us some important lessons that we’d like to share with you:

• Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management
  • Create an emergency plan: Every location should have a detailed emergency plan that’s regularly updated. 
  • Regular training: Employees should be regularly trained in emergency procedures.
  • Emergency kits: Keep emergency kits ready, containing essentials like water, food, batteries, and first aid supplies.
• Infrastructure and Logistics 
  • Robust infrastructure: Make sure your facilities are strong enough to withstand natural disasters. 
  • Backup systems: Invest in backup power supplies and redundant systems. 
  • Flexible supply chain: Work with reliable suppliers and transportation companies that can deliver even in crisis situations.
• Communication
  • Rapid communication: Ensure there are clear communication channels to quickly inform all employees about emergencies.
  • Contact networks: Maintain a network of contacts with local authorities and emergency services.

Looking Ahead

This week has shown us just how important it is to be prepared and to stick together. We’re looking ahead and are confident that both Houston and our company will come out stronger from this experience.

Stay safe and take care of yourselves!