Area-wide disasters happen all the time across the United States. At BMS CAT, we know how important it is to our customers that we are available to respond immediately to meet their needs during these events. But what does it mean when we say, We’ve mobilized?

Our mobilization process starts way before the storm begins. Each year, our catastrophe team gets together to review our customer’s needs and expectations. We are constantly evolving our technology and processes to make sure we are on the cutting edge with regard to how we provide our services. One of our more recent technologies allows us to zero in on damaged areas that have affected our valuable customer base. With the help of our Information Exchange Center (IEC), we are able to set up our mobile command centers and storm offices 3 to 5 days prior to the storm even hits. We strongly believe in a proactive approach to disaster recovery and this one of the many reasons we are the global leader in the restoration industry.

Once the storm actually hits, our entire organization of 1,000+ employees goes into action. Operations call in our project management staff and secure travel arrangements. We dispatch big rig trucks loaded with equipment and supplies to the affected areas. This year in Mexico, those trucks turned into planes because the roads were blocked, and we had to prevent any delays in servicing our customers. After several days, the roads were finally cleared, and our trucks brought the backup materials.

After the storm clears, Account Management and Operations Managers are the first to the scene. We are the boots on the ground, the eyes, and the ears of our customers. Our field teams report damages to our storm offices, corporate headquarters, and valued clients. I applaud the resiliency of our team, as they will often go for weeks without electricity, water and waste services, AC/ Heat, cellular communications, and have access to limited meals and water bottles, all of which they brought with them. It’s tough, especially in the beginning of a disaster, but we persevere in order to service our customers.

The first 72 hours after the storm hits is the high-pressure part of the event. Assessment is being done, equipment is being mobilized, scopes are being written, equipment is being set up, and everyone wants their structure mitigated and returned to working order immediately. This is when the experience and professionalism of our organization are unrivaled. We are able to simultaneously assess, communicate, and mitigate on the largest of scales while also gaining approvals from the parties we are servicing.

I have been responding to storms across the globe for over 30 years, both as an independent adjuster and for BMS CAT. Some of the more notable storms included the 2004 Florida and Bahama hurricanes, Katrina and Wilma in 2005, Ike in 2008, Sandy in 2012, and Cabo San Lucas in 2014. Each of these disasters comes with unique challenges that often dampen response time. Roads are blocked or flooded, cellular towers are down, debris and hazards are around every corner, and yet we always find a way. No matter the situation, BMS CAT is the best partner for you because we are tenacious professionals who know how to navigate and handle the absolute worst conditions planet Earth can throw at us. In the face of a disaster, who are you calling?