Bad weather can hit anywhere. Although some areas of the country are more prone to hurricanes or wildfires, in other areas, flooding, blizzards, or tornadoes may be the chief concern.

Not every storm or emergency rises to the level of a natural disaster. Still, you don’t have to be facing the LA wildfires or Hurricane Helene to feel the consequences of lesser weather events.

Regardless of your potential risk, you need a recovery plan and a checklist of things to do when bad weather threatens. Use this checklist to quickly take action to protect your employees and business. Add to it to-do items specific to your business.

Stay on Top of the Weather Forecast

Start paying close attention to the weather forecast at the first sign of bad weather.

• Pinpoint the ETA of the storm
• Follow the changing status of the storm
  • Monitor road conditions
  • Pay attention to state-by-state road and traffic conditions

Communicate With Customers

Make sure your customers are aware of the potential for a business disruption at your location.

• Develop a list at the corporate office and at each location for your business with phone numbers and email addresses.
  • Use text messaging and apps like WhatsApp to contact customers
  • Share your pre-storm plan
  • Share your recovery plan
  • Stay apprised of customer availability to remain open and conduct business

Take Care of Your Employees

Your employees are your greatest asset, so make sure you have developed a plan to keep them out of harm’s way while keeping them informed.

• Develop a call tree
  • Gather phone numbers and email addresses for all employees.
  • Make sure everyone knows their responsibility when the call tree goes into effect.
  • Develop and share a building evacuation plan for each location.
  • Set a meeting place for employees once a building has been evacuated.
  • Work with employees to develop grab-and-go kits that include medications, a first aid kit, cash, and emergency contact information.

Protect Your Trucking Company Assets

You also need to develop a plan for protecting your equipment and buildings. Executing on that plan can get you up and running quickly following a disaster.

• Equipment
  • Fuel all equipment before a storm. Fuel may be difficult to find immediately after a disaster.
  • Move equipment to higher ground away from areas that may flood.
• Buildings
  • Secure buildings from damage from high winds and flooding.
  • Develop a contingency plan if there is no power in the building after the disaster.
• Tools
  • Prepare a kit that includes duct tape, a pocketknife, wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities), a screwdriver, a lighter or matches sealed in a plastic bag, and gloves.
• Sanitation items
  • Gather the following items in one place: dust filters/masks, moist towelettes, plastic garbage bags, paper towels.
• Secure emergency supplies
  • Make sure to have emergency supplies gathered and available. This should include things such as water, battery-powered radio, flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, non-perishable food (with a manual can opener if needed), and mobile device chargers.

About the author: Ken Charmevil, division VP for Lily Transportation's New England Region, has 20 years of transportation experience. This article was authored and edited according to Heavy Duty Trucking’s editorial standards. Opinions expressed may not reflect those of HDT.