How Agility Recovery Helped a Cold Storage Manufacturer Weather Winter Storm Risks

Second only to large-scale natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, winter storms are among the greatest risks to business continuity in the United States.

For organizations with a minimal threshold for operational downtime, the need for rigorous business continuity testing and a fail-safe recovery plan is critical.

Overview:

A cold storage manufacturer with operations in the Midwest faced the constant threat of winter storms disrupting their business. With perishable goods requiring precise temperature control, even a short-term power outage or supply chain disruption could lead to devastating losses. Recognizing the importance of preparation, the organization partnered with Agility Recovery to conduct a series of business continuity tabletop testing exercises.

The Challenge:

The manufacturer’s facilities relied heavily on backup power systems to maintain refrigeration during outages. However, their leadership team wanted to go beyond just ensuring their generators were operational. They needed to:

• Evaluate their overall preparedness for extended outages caused by severe winter weather.
• Ensure effective communication with employees and drivers during emergencies.
• Guarantee a steady fuel supply to keep generators running and maintain delivery operations.

Agility Recovery’s Solution:

Through Agility’s tabletop testing services, the manufacturer was able to simulate a worst-case winter storm scenario. These exercises brought key stakeholders together to walk through their emergency response and identify gaps in their continuity plan.

What the Testing Revealed:

• Emergency Notification System Gaps: The exercise exposed a significant gap in the company’s ability to communicate with employees, drivers, and stakeholders in real time during an emergency. Without a centralized notification system, relaying critical updates on road conditions, power outages, and delivery delays would be chaotic and inefficient.
• Fuel Supply Vulnerabilities: While the facility’s backup generators were functional, the testing revealed no formal plan to secure fuel deliveries during prolonged outages. With roads potentially closed or delayed due to snow and ice, this left their refrigeration and delivery vehicles at risk of running out of fuel, jeopardizing operations and inventory.

Actionable Results:

Following the tabletop exercise, the manufacturer partnered with Agility Recovery to:

• Implement an emergency notification system that ensures timely, accurate updates to all employees, drivers, and key partners during an outage.
• Establish a fail-safe backup fuel solution by identifying alternate fuel suppliers and securing priority agreements for emergency deliveries.

The Outcome:

After implementing these solutions, the manufacturer is now confident in their ability to:

• Maintain continuous communication with employees and stakeholders during winter weather events.
• Avoid fuel shortages and keep operations running smoothly, regardless of storm severity.
• Minimize risks to inventory and delivery timelines, ensuring their customers receive uninterrupted service.

As a result, the organization has strengthened its resilience against winter storm disruptions and is better prepared to safeguard its critical operations and perishable goods.

Agility’s tabletop testing opened our eyes to vulnerabilities we hadn’t even considered. Their expertise helped us close those gaps, and now we’re confident in our ability to face winter storms head-on.

Operations Manager

Ready to test your resilience?

Agility Recovery’s tabletop testing services can help uncover gaps and refine your business continuity plan. Let’s build your readiness together.