In cases of natural disasters, like extreme weather, businesses usually employ emergency backup systems. But even the best systems can falter within hours without a proper disaster fuel supply strategy. Indeed, as per the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), about 40% of all businesses are never operational again following a significant disaster. Fuel supply chain disruptions are a big reason why.
However, planning fuel access ahead of time can help businesses stay open and manage emergencies flawlessly. This article shares the frequent mistakes companies make without a fuel supply strategy.
Keep your business operational during emergencies. Contact Rhino Fuel to set up a dependable backup fuel plan!
Key Takeaways
- Businesses might rely on public fuel stations, underestimate fuel needs, and not set up emergency fuel delivery ahead of time.
- Most companies overlook fuel planning, leaving no clear owner, tested strategy, and backup plan when a crisis hits.
- Those who think ahead and hedge their fuel supply will be more likely to remain afloat and recover more quickly during natural disasters.
Why Disaster Fuel Supply Planning Is Critical for Business Continuity
Most businesses neglect disaster fuel planning and instead spend on backup generators, emergency plans, and communications systems. But diesel is hard to come by after a disaster such as a storm, hurricane, or even a power outage. Events like the Elliott Winter Storm in 2022 demonstrated that this can cause severe shipment cancellations and delays.
Besides, the majority of the small- and medium-sized business projects cannot survive after a catastrophe since they depend on diesel. Reasons like these are why organizations must plan ahead to have access to fuel. So, they do not need to address the fuel supply issue during the crisis, and could retain their operations until the crisis is resolved.
Mistake #1: Not Having a Disaster Fuel Supply Plan at All
Many companies don’t have a disaster plan, and an even smaller number of them plan on fuel access. In case of a disaster, the diesel supply may run out fast, deliveries are halted, and fuel may become a scarce commodity. This can shut down business operations.
For example, during Hurricane Maria, 10,000 shipping containers of relief goods and supplies were at the docks in San Juan. This was due to a lack of diesel to deliver them by truck. Nevertheless, the companies that have disaster fuel planning will be able to get fuel, and find backups.
Mistake #2: Relying on Local Fuel Stations During Emergencies
In case of an emergency, most businesses rely on their local gas stations. This is dangerous since in cases of disasters, fuel is quickly depleted. So, stations can empty in a short time. Most stations in Florida ran out of fuel during incidents such as Hurricane Milton.
Furthermore, power outages can prevent pumps from operating despite the presence of fuel. Roads may be shut down, and deliveries may not arrive at stations for days. However, firms that have an emergency fuel supply plan or a mobile fuel delivery contract are able to continue operating since they have their fuel in place.
Mistake #3: Not Securing Backup Generator Fuel Supply
Having a backup power generator isn’t enough, as refilling generators is not always possible during disasters. A 2003 report of the New York City blackout revealed that not all emergency generators worked. This was because they didn’t properly start, broke down, or ran out of fuel.
Fuel that is stored may also spoil without proper polishing or stabilizers. Moreover, winter storms can make it difficult for generators to start.
So, critical systems can fail due to a lack of backup generator fuel supply or a strategy to fuel them. But organizations with good generator fuel management store diesel in bulk for emergencies, inspect its quality periodically, and arrange backup delivery plans.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Emergency Fuel Delivery Services
An emergency fuel delivery after a disaster begins is usually too late. It should be arranged in advance, so fuel is available when needed. Bulk on-site fuel delivery brings diesel directly to generators, vehicles, and equipment during a crisis when normal supply chains fail.
Nonetheless, a pre-planned contract is significant since, during disasters, emergency fuel delivery services are extremely busy. Businesses without agreements may wait longer. But a contract gives priority fuel delivery and can help avoid high diesel charges during emergencies.
Mistake #5: Underestimating Fuel Needs During Emergencies
Organizations normally prepare in case of short outages, such as a few hours or even overnight. But real disasters can be longer, and the consumption of fuel can exceed the estimates. Generators use additional fuel during start-up and more (or less) fuel based on load.
Furthermore, when there are prolonged blackouts, the consumption of fuel goes up since critical systems such as cooling, medical equipment, and security have to be maintained. Besides, different facilities have different fuel needs. So, calculate fuel use based on real conditions and prepare a fuel supply for emergencies for longer outages.
Mistake #6: Overlooking Fuel Supply Chain Disruptions
In a supply chain, fuel needs to pass refineries, pipelines, storage facilities, trucks, and stations. Any impediment in the critical infrastructure fuel supply, however, keeps the diesel from getting to hospitals and emergency response centers, as well as other important services.
As an example, following Hurricane Irma, fuel and power had to be reinstated at truck stops prior to the delivery of crucial products to Miami. Reasons like these are why a good disaster fuel supply plan should include backup suppliers, and businesses must also know the supplier’s fuel routes.
Mistake #7: Failing to Integrate Fuel Into Disaster Preparedness Plans
If you don’t have a proper disaster preparedness fuel strategy, your business won’t be able to get diesel on time to sustain its operations for long. It’s a critical oversight that can turn fleets, backup generators, and critical equipment useless.
Businesses, therefore, ought to have a concise strategy to abide by. They need to know which supplier to contact, when to place an order, and who to make decisions with in case of an emergency. Good plans also include fuel needs per phase, contingency vendors, enough on-site storage, and periodic emergency drills.
How to Build an Effective Disaster Fuel Supply Strategy
Only disaster fuel planning is not sufficient. You need a business continuity fuel planning strategy that still functions when fuel runs out, such as the following:
Step 1: Dissect Fuel Needs
Identify all fuel-burning equipment, such as generators, vehicles, and systems. Then, evaluate fuel consumption based on real conditions, not ideal numbers. Then, plan backup for extended outages, 72 hours or even a week.
Step 2: Plan Storage and Delivery
Next, evaluate the amount of diesel you can stash on-site and whether extra fuel delivery is needed. Stash fuel in strategic spots. This reduces the risk of supply failure. Also, strategize how fuel will reach your site if roads are blocked.
Step 3: Secure Suppliers Early
Do not wait until a disaster starts. Credible suppliers begin preparing up to 96 hours in advance. So, set up agreements early to guarantee priority delivery during emergencies. Also, inspect contract options such as fixed pricing and guaranteed supply.
Step 4: Assign Clear Roles
Decide who will manage fuel decisions during a crisis. This can be an individual or a small team who could manage suppliers, place orders, and update operations. Also, train backup staff so the plan still functions if important people are unavailable.
Step 5: Test and Update the Plan
Evaluate your fuel plan at least once a year by running drills that simulate real disruptions. Include your personnel, equipment, and suppliers in them. After this, review the results and update the plan as needed.
Industries That Depend on Reliable Disaster Fuel Supply
Some industries can pause during a disaster and restart later. While others, like the following, cannot stop at all, even for a short time:
Healthcare Facilities and Hospitals
Patient safety is threatened in the case of a fuel shortage. Generators in hospitals supply energy to ICUs, operating rooms, and critical equipment. They are to be prepared to operate up to 96 hours without external assistance.
Data Centers and Telecommunications
Data centers need a consistent fuel supply to store data and operate networks. Their generators can operate at 75–100% load, which uses fuel quickly. Telecom systems also face similar risks. When fuel runs out, cell towers can fail. This can disrupt communication and emergency response.
Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities
Fuel is used in factories to operate machines and regulate temperatures, and not all systems can be shut down without breaking. Therefore, shutdowns may impact food, medicine, and other important products’ supply chains.
Transportation and Logistics
Emergency vehicles and delivery trucks need constant fuel. In its absence, supply chains come to a halt. As an example, following Hurricane Maria, relief supplies could not be delivered, as there was no fuel for trucks.
Government and Emergency Response Services
The police, fire, and medical teams depend on fuel to run, and scouting out fuel during a crisis wastes time. Without a critical infrastructure fuel supply, they may also not be able to respond quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
disaster fuel supply
What is a disaster fuel supply strategy?
A disaster fuel supply plan is a strategy to guarantee that a business has fuel in case of emergencies. It involves stocking fuel on site, preloading delivery agreements, and determining who will deal with fuel in times of disruption.
Why is emergency fuel supply important during disasters?
During disasters, roads can be closed and supply chains are crippled. So, an emergency fuel supply is crucial to resume transport and business operations.
How do businesses prepare fuel for emergencies?
Businesses first calculate how much fuel they need for generators, vehicles, and equipment. They stash enough fuel for worst-case outages, and set up delivery agreements in advance. Moreover, they test their plan periodically to make sure it functions.
What industries need emergency diesel fuel delivery?
An emergency fuel delivery is required by hospitals to run life-saving systems and data centers to maintain power to the servers. Manufacturers also need it to prevent pauses in production. In addition, fuel is required by emergency services, such as police, fire, and EMS, and logistics to move goods.
Sign Up For Dependable Fuel Delivery From Rhino Fuel Before Disaster Strikes
You can secure your fuel supply for your fleet with Rhino Fuel’s aid before a disaster strikes. We provide mobile and on-site diesel and other fuel types like off-road diesel, gasoline, and DEF at competitive pricing. So, businesses do not depend on stations or delayed supply chains, or purchase bulk fuel at a high cost. Moreover, our company supplies fuel to equipment, fleets, and generators in bulk, nationwide, in both remote and urban locations, even in cases of emergencies.
So, call Rhino Fuel today and establish emergency diesel fuel delivery to guarantee your operations are not affected at all.
