WOW, it has been a week to remember here in Texas.
A blast of arctic air made its way this far south, bringing with it record low temperatures and up to 10 inches of snow in some places.
The result was a power grid that bit the dust, forcing millions of people into the dark and frigid cold – some for hours and others for days. Combined with boil water alerts, bursting pipes and frozen pools (including mine below), few have been left untouched by this winter storm.
The good news is temperatures will rise above freezing this weekend, melting the snow and restoring power to all. According to the forecast, it will be 70 degrees in Dallas next Wednesday!
However, the memory of this storm will not disappear as quickly. Beyond the angst and repair bills, there are lessons to be remembered that can also be applied to your business in a year still full of uncertainty.
🔶 Be Prepared
Borrowing the Boy Scott motto, it’s critical to look ahead to foresee potential problems – and opportunities. The people who had stocked up on firewood, water and non-perishable food were in a much better position to weather the storm.
Do you have a crisis plan in place if your business has to be shut down unexpectedly? What marketing tools will you need to survive?
🔶 Communicate Consistently
Attempts to reach electricity providers were met with busy phone lines and an unresponsive website. News reports delivered information that quickly proved to be inaccurate. Not knowing what was happening and not being able to get answers added fuel to the fire (pun intended), causing public outrage.
How will you reach your customers in a crisis? How will they be able to reach you?
🔶 Help Thy Neighbor
It has been inspiring to watch people helping not only their friends and family, but also strangers by donating food, water and firewood; opening their homes for a hot shower or cup of coffee; and helping to clean up damage caused by the storm.
What products or services can you provide to help others? Is there a non-profit organization in your community you can partner with in a crisis?
Texas has some work to do in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, but taking care of each other is our first priority.
How will you take care of your customers, employees and communities when it counts?