Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Houston, Texas, leaving a trail of logistics challenges. USA Today reports flooding of highways and the closure of oil ports.
Logistics companies and other businesses in Houston are racing to bring operations back to normal.
Houston’s power utility is also sweating under the collar to restore power services. Houston’s airports were closed on Monday. The Port of Houston resumed operations on Wednesday.
Critical logistics facilities
What impact could a power outage have on logistics? A power outage can halt operations at warehouses, distribution centers, and other critical logistics facilities.
As businesses cope with the effects of hurricane Beryl, there is also the issue of dealing with a backlog in operations. In the aftermath and dealing with damages, logistics companies will look to re-route cargo movement, but this may be expensive.
Oil ports affected by the storm are working to restore services, with some resuming operations on Tuesday.
Service alerts
Ahead of hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.
Logistics giant UPS issued a service alert saying its services have been impacted due to Hurricane Beryl, and delays are expected in the Houston area. “UPS facilities will provide pickup and delivery services as conditions permit,”
FedEx is also dealing with the storm’s effects, saying on Wednesday that Hurricane Beryl is causing hazardous conditions across portions of Southeast Texas, especially in the Houston market.
“Delays and disruptions can be expected for inbound and outbound shipments in the affected region. Contingency plans have been activated, and we are committed to providing service to the best of our ability in areas that can be safely accessed.”
What can logistics companies plan ahead for weather disruptions?
- Maintain a stockpile of essential goods and supplies to ensure continuity of operations during and after a storm.
- Establish relationships with multiple suppliers and carriers to reduce dependency on a single source.
As Texas deals with the hurricane’s aftermath, businesses will count the costs associated with the hurricane, and begin repairing damaged infrastructure.
Photo Credit: Trucking Proz (Facebook)
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About the author
Sharl is a qualified journalist. He has over 10 years’ experience in the media industry, including positions as an editor of a magazine and Business Editor of a daily newspaper. Sharl also has experience in logistics specifically operations, where he worked with global food aid organisations distributing food into Africa. Sharl enjoys writing business stories and human interest pieces.
