How does a company become operational within two days of a devastating
natural disaster? Del Papa Distributing Company, headquartered in
Galveston, Texas, and beverage distributor to 17 counties along the
Texas Gulf Coast, can answer this question through their recent
experience with Hurricane Ike.
On September 13, 2008, Hurricane
Ike substantially damaged much of Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast,
including the Del Papa headquarters and distribution facilities.
Additionally, it disabled the majority of the company's delivery fleet,
disrupted communication, and caused tremendous personal loss to many of
their 165 Galveston area employees.
Yet, through a combination
of team work from the two other Del Papa distribution centers and
coordination with other Texas Anheuser-Busch distributors; reverting to
the old method of paper trails; going practically door-to-door to check
on customers and their needs; using busses to serve as office
headquarters; and most importantly, the spirit of the company and its
employees, and their commitment to customers, Del Papa was able to
become 80 percent operational making deliveries to their customers
within only three days and fully operational with 14 days.
To hear my interview with four key execs on
how Del Papa got back into operation, what they learned for the
experience -- and what you need to know to get your business up and
running as soon as possible after a hurricane or other disaster just click on the link below..