Disaster Recovery Journal Winter 2022

aware of lobbies and other indoor areas where water may pool from melted ice and snow, and keep this area as dry as possible. Depending on work conditions, temperature and wind chill should also be monitored to avoid temperature-related illnesses from cold exposure. Effective communication is crucial while mitigating issues and confusion within the workforce. Ensuring employ ees know how to communicate with supervisors during abnormal operations is paramount. Eliminating confusion and ensuring efficient communication during severe weather is nearly effortless once you have structured policies and proce dures in place. For example, contingency plans should be in place when employees are working from home and lose power or need to get to the workplace but can’t be Heavy snow, sleet, and cold tempera tures are a few examples of winter weather which can increase the probability of structural stress and damage. Although some parts of the country are more pre pared for extreme and long-lasting winter weather events, roof collapses from snow or ice accumulation can happen anywhere. It’s easy to forget about damage from burst pipes, which can lead to flooding. Sensitive electric equipment can become less efficient or stop working when exposed to prolonged cold temperatures and pose a threat for electrocution due to flooding water from burst pipes. To prevent these worst-case scenarios, consider draining unused or unnecessary water lines and protect critical equip ment with additional insulation or placing space heaters around particularly vulner able pipes. Another alternative is letting faucets drip wherever possible and post ing signs to remind employees to leave it dripping after use. To fully understand the vulnerability of your facility, take time to thoroughly understand the build ing’s thresholds and what it can withstand. For example, two hours at 20°F might not have the same impact as 24 hours at 32°F. Finally, follow proper winterization guide lines for equipment and facilities such as due to hazardous road conditions. Facility and equipment damage

regular roof maintenance and vulnerabil ity assessments Power/utility outages Unfortunately, power and utility out ages are the most common issue with winter weather. Ice and snow on the roads create hazardous driving conditions, which compounds the issue and prolongs service recovery. Widespread outages can snowball into further deterioration in critical utilities. For example, in February of 2021, Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc in Texas. Not only did residents and businesses lose power for days, but they also lost water, natural gas was in demand but hard to come by, and telecom service was spotty due to equipment issues and increased usage throughout the event. Having insight into the number of power outages in the area aids in moni toring the threat level to a facility or a business (such as leveraging tools that visualize power outages at county and state levels). Depending on the needs of a particular business, investing in backup solutions like generators, stockpiled bot tled water and snacks, and water trucks might be prudent. It’s also important to know when to start monitoring outages. Check the weather forecast for your loca tion and the surrounding area on a regu lar basis so you have as much advanced notice as possible. If you don’t know snow or ice is coming until the last minute, it can be incredibly difficult and expensive to gather supplies, make schedule changes around expected driving conditions, and ready your facility. Supply chain issues When travel restrictions are enforced due to snow and ice, it can impede the supply chain, leaving businesses without essential products or equipment to remain operational. While some issues with the supply chain are inevitable, businesses should take inventory of what supplies they have on hand, have clear visibility into supplier risk and what types of weather impacts their transportation, and develop response plans for all winter weather.

Appropriate and accurate temperature forecast The best way to manage all aspects of business in the face of a winter threat is to ensure access to accurate temperature forecasts. With the changing climate, forecasts can shift – sometimes from one hour to the next. This includes localized, extreme cold temperatures or wind chills that can put your facility, employees, and their homes at an even greater risk. Temperature forecasts should provide guidance on the following: n How soon will the front arrive? n How specific is the forecast? n How widespread will the event be? n What else is expected? (Wind, wind chill, and precipitation?) Once these questions are answered, the response team can begin activating your winter weather plan and take steps to pre vent worst-case scenarios. Be proactive in the face of a changing climate Strategically and tactically prepar ing for severe winter weather has always been a fundamental requirement for busi nesses. However, those preparations are being challenged in unique and unprec edented ways by the changing climate. Preparing for the risks posed by past events no longer guarantees success in the future. Businesses and risk management personnel must be proactive in planning for weather-related risks, and the simplest way to do that is to gather the most accu rate information to assess vulnerabilities, protect assets, and invest in a mitigative infrastructure. v n How cold will it get? n How long will it last?

Shannon Copeland is an industry man ager for StormGeo and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s School of Meteorology. During her tenure, she sup ported numerous research initiatives

focused on severe weather, emergency management, and disaster preparedness and recovery, including con tent review for FEMA’s National Hurricane Program train ing series. As an industry manager, Copeland supports StormGeo’s outreach strategy and aids in identifying weather-related risks to businesses and their employees.

30 DISASTER RECOVERY JOURNAL | WINTER 2022