PowerSecure, Inc.’s Post

If there’s one thing we know about Florida, it’s that we can weather some pretty fierce storms—both literally and figuratively. With recent hurricanes affecting places like Milton, our communities have shown incredible resilience. One bright spot in the food service world? The introduction of Temporary Commercial Kitchens (TECKs). These mobile kitchens are here to help food businesses get back on their feet when disaster strikes. So, What’s a TECK? Any kitchen that is a temporary public food service establishment, used for the preparation of takeout or delivery only meals housed in portable structures that are movable from place to place by a tow or are self-propelled or otherwise axle mounted, that include self-contained utilities, including, but not limited to, gas, water, electricity, or liquid waste disposal. Why TECKs Matter TECKs aren’t just a temporary fix; they’re a lifeline for food businesses hit hard by disasters. They enable our local restaurants and vendors to keep serving the community, ensuring everyone has access to delicious food—even in tough times. But remember, TECKs can NOT be tent set ups, and likely a TECK may require a commissary for additional support. One of the standout features of TECKs is their flexibility in serving as a temporary base for food businesses while their permanent establishments undergo repairs (from 30 up to 120 days). This option is invaluable for operators who want to maintain continuity and keep serving their customers, especially after challenges like hurricanes or other disasters. By allowing TECKs to serve as a temporary solution, Florida’s licensing framework provides food businesses with the opportunity to bounce back quickly after setbacks. This is a crucial lifeline for operators who want to keep their loyal customers and maintain their presence in the community, even during challenging times. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eNpYT8r2 #hurricanemilton #florida #foodlicense

I have had some time to reflect on the closing of our Spencer Store due to flooding and would like to share my reflection with you all. **** “It was a normal Saturday morning on June 22 until the phone call. My district manager's voice crackled with urgency: "Flooding in Spencer. Karmen says the store is underwater. They can't get there." A pit formed in my stomach. Floods were one thing, but this seemed to be a different beast. Panic sent me scrambling online. The images and videos that greeted me were horrifying. In just 24 hours, Spencer had transformed from a peaceful town to a disaster zone. A record-breaking downpour had unleashed a 500-year flood, engulfing entire neighborhoods by sunrise. Our store, once a place of life and commerce, stood surrounded by two feet of raging water. Surreal footage showed rescue boats navigating our submerged parking lot. The devastation was overwhelming. Officials compared the damage to hurricanes. Over 2,500 homes were damaged, a thousand more forever lost. Our store was a complete loss. We tossed out mountains of merchandise – clothes, furniture, fixtures, everything. It was catastrophic. Faced with such destruction, the question loomed: where do we even begin? The answer, I realized, lay in our foundation. Having a clear purpose and strong values are important, but it's during the darkest moments that they become truly vital. It's also about the people you surround yourself with and nurturing those 3 AM phone call relationships. These connections, built during good times, become lifelines in the face of tragedy. And they did come and will come in the future. The outpouring of support from our Many Hands community was heartwarming. I was reminded that we weren't alone. We may be forever changed by this event, but the sun will rise again.” **** This is an excerpt from my 3…2…1 Impact Blog. If you would like to read more, click the link below. #flood #Iowa #store

Another hurricane is about to rip through Florida and I’m here to make logistics sexy again. No one on this archaic platform talks about logistics because no one understands it. Paid media is beyond easy. A blind kid can get you a 3x ROAS. My neighbor who plays bingo 4x a week can push a $20 product on Tik Tok Shop. But… do you truly understand logistics and its impact on profitability, retention, LTV, etc? Survey says probably not which is why I’m going to start talking about it more. I’m not a doctor but here’s what you need to be doing BEFORE this upcoming hurricane in Florida. 1) Get a list of impacted zip codes through your carrier and make sure your customers are updated daily. Yes I said it. Daily. 2) If you’re a subscription company - Pull all upcoming orders over the next 7/14 days and pass that list off to your CS team. —> Have them reach out to these customers via email or phone and let them know what will be happening fulfillment wise. Be proactive, not reactive. 3) If you are Omnichannel (don’t hate me John Roman) make sure you direct customers to retail stores nearby that carry your product. —> A lot of your customers may have not been impacted where they live, but their logistics chain certainly has been. —> This is where promoting retail is crucial. You DO NOT want your customers purchasing another brand because you can’t get them their product via carrier, especially if it’s a consumable. 4) If you manufacture your own product make sure your team is aligned. Everything from procurement, manufacturing, packaging, fulfillment, etc WILL be impacted. Anyways, that’s all I have for now, I gotta go. My two year old son literally just 💩 his pants. (My wife was bragging to everyone last weekend how he’s “already potty trained”) P.S. This was so hard to fit into a 90 second reeel. More to come.

It’s hard to see all of the devastation from #HurricaneHelene. There is a long way to go on relief and recovery efforts. It feels overwhelming, but it’s comforting to always look for the helpers. Proud of how the retail industry steps up in times like these – here’s a snapshot of just some of the ways #retailleaders are responding to communities in need: https://lnkd.in/edES52Pe

Here's a ChatGPT generated post about something I thought was interesting. I'm not this verbose typically. I'd usually say "Stay Safe" and share the link. ----- https://lnkd.in/ezREbwkF 🌪️ The resilience of communities in the face of storms is a testament to the human spirit. Waffle House, a quintessential American diner, stands as an unexpected marker for measuring the severity of weather events. Their commitment to serving customers, even during the fiercest storms, has led to the creation of the "Waffle House Index"—a poignant measure of a storm’s impact based on whether local Waffle House locations remain open or closed. This interesting approach not only highlights the importance of preparedness in the food industry but also underscores the significance of community support and recovery following natural disasters. The experiences shared by Waffle House employees and the stories of patrons highlight the critical role businesses play in disaster resilience. As we reflect on the lessons learned from Waffle House, let us also consider how our organizations can contribute to community strength in challenging times. #DisasterResponse #CommunityResilience #WaffleHouseIndex #BusinessContinuity #EmergencyManagement #SupportLocal #HumanSpirit

Hurricane Milton, a formidable Category 4 storm, is poised to make landfall along Florida’s west-central coast, prompting critical supply chain adjustments statewide. Port Tampa Bay, a vital hub for goods such as petroleum and citrus, will close, worsening congestion at Gulf and East Coast ports. Inland, trucking and rail routes are expected to face closures due to anticipated flooding and storm damage, which could severely impact Florida’s citrus industry and tourism sector for the long term. Food retailers are recalibrating operations to prepare for the storm. Distribution centers for Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Publix have shut down to ensure safety, halting inbound and outbound shipments. Amazon is closely monitoring the situation, mobilizing its logistics infrastructure as needed. Grocery hubs are shifting inventory to avoid the storm’s path, aiming to ensure essential goods reach communities in and out of evacuation zones. The Food Industry Association emphasizes the critical role of power, access, and fuel in recovery efforts, highlighting the need for coordinated strategies to restore supply chains swiftly after the storm.

Hurricane Helene has severely impacted community lifelines across seven states, causing extensive disruptions. We are closely monitoring the functional status of food supply chains, and as of yesterday, hundreds of food lifelines—such as grocery stores and convenience stores—remain non-operational, leading to critical food access challenges (the snapshot shows all non-functional stores/facilities). In collaboration with our partners, we are providing near-real-time insights to support ongoing response efforts and address these urgent needs.

every once and a while, i decide to torment myself by getting driving directions from Montreal to the nearest Waffle House, which is a very humble, but delicious breakfast food chain in the southern United States. they’re getting closer and closer, but i know that their business model wouldn’t work here given all the workers rights n’ stuff like that. one of the reasons i know it wouldn’t work is that Waffle House is open during all sorts of terrible weather such that federal disaster relief in the United States has been using what’s called the “Waffle House Index” to gauge the extremity of natural disasters since 2011. and the Waffle House business middle sort of demands that they be open like this? Waffle House has a very minimalist advertising budget —it’s almost all word of mouth. …and Waffle House isn’t considered very classy. instead, being available with their fresh eggs and waffles 24 hours a day during tough times, including major holidays, is how they grow their loyal customer base. —because, regardless of how low-class one thinks of them, the food is always a fantastic value and no one wants to cook for themselves when life gives them lemons. the sole person i’ve EVER heard complain about Waffle House complained that their eggs were greasy. 🙄 i dunno. maybe they had just never had good scrambled eggs before? for me, their scrambled eggs are the scrambled eggs by which all other scrambled eggs will be measured. …and, yes, one has to be on their toes when they go to a Waffle House? they are typically frequented by people who are deep in extremely disordered substance abuse. that said, Waffle House waitstaff near-universally has a consternation that’s brilliant with keeping people in check regardless of the circumstances: it’s never dull, especially during the night shift, but my experiences with feeling endangered have been rather fleeting there. Waffle House is just a strong restaurant. all that to say that there’s a picture of a boarded up Waffle House in Tallahassee, Florida circulating social media right now and i am just terrified. Waffle House doesn’t do that; nothing stops them. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

🌼 It's spring and summer, prime time for ants! 🐜 These tiny pests often invade homes searching for food and water. Keep them at bay by cleaning up crumbs and spills, sealing food in airtight containers, and fixing leaks. Learn more about protecting your home from America’s #1 nuisance pest: https://buff.ly/3pi6FGZ

Property management is unpredictable enough without having to worry about storm season pests. Fortify all of your rental properties against storm season pests with Excel's all-inclusive guide. #propertymanagement #mice #prevention https://lnkd.in/eH7S-ZuS