As the Houston region enters hurricane season, resilience is not only top of mind for residents, but a business imperative. Severe weather, outages, and disruptions can quickly impact employee safety, customer service, and operations.
Through its Regional Resilience initiative, the Greater Houston Partnership works with business leaders, infrastructure providers, emergency management agencies, and public officials to strengthen the systems that support the region, including power, communications, transportation, healthcare, and flood mitigation.
While no organization can prevent severe weather, preparation can reduce operational risk and ease recovery.
Plan for Extended Outages
During a major storm, utilities restore power based on safety and system priorities. Crews first assess damage, secure hazards, and repair major infrastructure before addressing local outages, prioritizing hospitals and other critical-to-life facilities.
Businesses should understand that critical load designation does not guarantee uninterrupted power. Even essential facilities may experience outages during severe weather.
The Partnership’s inaugural Resilience Forward event encouraged organizations to ask:
- What would an extended outage mean for your facility or satellite locations?
- Which operations are most critical to maintain?
- Where are the likely points of failure in your response plan?
- Can your organization operate through a worst-case scenario?
- How do you know your continuity plan will work?
Proactively testing plans and systems can help identify gaps before an emergency occurs.
Build Resilience in Layers
Preparedness requires multiple strategies. Businesses should evaluate vulnerabilities in facilities, communications, technology, and workforce operations.
Key considerations include:
- Backup generators and fuel continuity plans
- Redundant communication systems
- Energy preservation strategies
- Cybersecurity planning during disruptions
- Continuity plans for multi-day outages
- Clear internal communication protocols
Organizations should also identify dependencies that could affect operations, including vendors, transportation routes, internet connectivity, supply chain disruptions, and how their employees are personally impacted.
Prioritize Clear Communication
Communication failures can quickly become operational failures during severe weather. Businesses should establish protocols in advance and ensure employees know where to find accurate information.
Organizations are encouraged to rely on official emergency management agencies, utility outage trackers, local alerts, and the National Hurricane Center rather than unverified social media posts.
Internally, communication plans should clearly answer:
- What happened?
- What stakeholders are affected?
- What actions should employees take?
- Where can stakeholders find updates?
Organizations should also evaluate backup internet connectivity, wireless failover options, and alternate methods for communicating with employees during extended outages.
Preparedness Starts Now
Hurricane preparedness is a shared responsibility. By strengthening their continuity and preparedness efforts, businesses contribute to a more resilient Houston region.
The Partnership will continue working alongside public- and private sector partners to strengthen the critical systems that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from major events.
Resources at a Glance
- Power outages: Use official utility outage tools such as CenterPoint Energy or Entergy.
- Emergency alerts: AlertHouston, ReadyHarris, local emergency management agencies, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio.
- Storm tracking: National Hurricane Center.
- Preparedness resources: Ready.gov hurricane preparedness guidance.
- Emergency assistance registration: STEAR and local emergency management resources.
- Immediate life-threatening emergencies: Call 911.