As you’ve likely seen on the news, Texas and Florida were recently ravaged by powerful hurricanes. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused widespread destruction and disrupted the lives of millions, the effects of which will be seen for years to come. The flooding that occurred during the storms did much more than ruin homes and force people to evacuate. It disrupted many industries, including the shipping industry. The recent hurricanes showed that even with modern advancements and technology, the shipping process can be incredibly complex.
Shipping Was Suspended Because Of The Storm
Flooding forced practically every shipment carrier to suspend deliveries, as carriers were unable to access their destinations. UPS, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service were among the companies forced to suspend delivery service. Large companies with abundant resources dedicated to shipping logistics were left helpless, because of a situation completely out of their control.
UPS spokesman Matt O’Connor said at the time, “When you think about all the families and small businesses that are impacted – just the sheer number of zip codes that were impacted – it’s pretty astonishing.”
Amazon shut down their Houston-area facilities, and told customers that deliveries would be delayed until “the floods subside.” FedEx was forced to suspend air delivery to over 350 cities, and ground delivery to nearly 500 cities. FedEx spokesman Jonathan Lyons said, “Our priority is always the safety of our team members and providing service to our customers. FedEx has implemented contingency plans to lessen the effect of Hurricane Harvey on operations and mitigate potential service delays.”
Pharmaceuticals A Huge Concern
The delivery of pharmaceuticals can be extremely sensitive, with customers needing to get their medications both on time and in the proper state. Some patients may be able to survive if a shipment is a few days late, but if that shipment arrives expired, it could be weeks before another shipment arrives, jeopardizing their health.
Fortunately, the nation’s two largest pharmacy stores, CVS and Walgreens, were able to make contingency plans when shipments were delayed. AllianceRx Walgreens Prime CEO Joel Wright said, “We began working on delivery alternatives before Hurricane Harvey hit. We have called all patients in the affected areas and shipped medicines in advance to alleviate many issues ahead of time. The pharmacy also worked with select Walgreens stores in ‘safe areas’ to serve as depot locations to dispense medications for those who are unable to get their medicine deliveries.” CVS allowed “one-time emergency refills for plan members in impacted areas.”
Protect Your Shipments
When shipping sensitive materials, it’s best to plan for the unexpected. Consider using SureTemp Elite Container Blankets, which can help alleviate concern about your shipment’s safety. The blankets protected shipments for over two weeks when tested during the extreme summer heat, and can help provide a (literal) security blanket to preserve your costly investments when unforeseen circumstances arise. The blankets are made of low conductive synthetic hollow fibers, creating a tough thermal barrier. Additionally, the blanket’s outside foil layer is optimized to reflect heat. SureTemp’s Elite Container Blankets are easy to install and can last up to a decade.
