24/7/365 TQL Provides Support During Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey continues to impact the Gulf Coast and the millions of people who live there, including members of our own TQL family. All employees on TQL’s Texas teams are safe and accounted for.
Our Houston office on North Loop West was reopened on Wednesday, although only 20% of TQL’s employees were able to make it to the office because of flooded roadways.
Fortunately, TQL’s infrastructure is built to always be prepared for the unexpected. TQL’s systems are designed to provide immediate backup support whenever an office experiences an emergency or is otherwise impacted by a natural disaster. Teams across our 59-office footprint are currently on rotation, providing support to our customers and carriers impacted by the massive storm. Disrupted shipments are being staged safely and planned shipments are being rerouted as needed.
Recovery Gridlock
While the full extent of damage from Harvey’s record-breaking rainfall will be unclear for several weeks to come, estimates say flooding has impacted capacity as much as 10%. Trucks lost to wind and high water will be replaced by other available trucks, impacting capacity in other parts of the country as well.
The Texas Department of Transportation reports there are currently more than 500 roadways in the area experiencing flood conditions. Texas DOT is continually updating a live, interactive road map displaying damaged and closed roads, and are asking all motorists to stay off roadways until flooding recedes.
Intermodal routes in and out of the area are suspended until flood waters recede, and several container ships bound for Houston and Corpus Christi are dancing around the Gulf with oil tankers waiting for an open port.
Untangling this supply chain gridlock will no doubt take time. The best advice out there is to stay informed, be patient and adhere to guidelines imposed by emergency response teams.
Help Where It Counts
Many companies are already stepping in to help where they can. TQL employees across the country are donating supplies and making cash donations to the American Red Cross, which are matched 50% by the company. Non-TQL employees can click here to join in the effort.
TQL is also teaming up with Klosterman Baking Company and Matthew 25: Ministries to move a truckload of bread donated by the baking company to Corpus Christi, TX. The load - which equates to 13,312 loaves - will be used to make sandwiches for displaced flood victims.
If you are a carrier or supply chain provider and you have services you’d like to offer, please contact the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). They are organizing donors and volunteers, matching them to organizations that need help.
