The PKX Savannah branch weathered late September’s Hurricane Helene remarkably well considering the strength of the storm, and it managed to help keep its customers and community happy in the process. “We got more than what we expected with the wind. This far inland, 60 mile per hour winds are pretty impactful,” said Regional Manager Shane Lowry.
Plenty of trees were blown over, but the Savannah PKX facility was spared any major damage although the storm interrupted power, Internet and cell phone service. Lowry said that in the wake of Helene he tried to tell PKX employees not to arrive at the shop until daylight, but many didn’t receive the message and were at work well before dawn.
“It’s been business as usual since the storm hit,” Lowry said. “There’s a lot of pulling trees from power lines and so forth. Monday we were right back to work.” He said the storm also didn’t significantly affect the EPA mandated storm sewer and piping inspections PKX is doing for the City of Savannah.
“We got a lot more done for the city in the timeframe we had, so they were very happy with us,” Lowry said. “We’re the first company the city has ever used as a third party to help them, so they’re working with us and we’re working together; it’s a great partnership.”
Lowry said one of the major challenges in the aftermath of the hurricane was to ensure none of the branch’s client base, which has been steadily growing for the last two years, experienced any significant interruption in service.
Lowry said the PKX crews are back to a regular schedule. “We’re all communicating with each other about what needs to be done,” he said, adding that hurricanes are highly unpredictable and it’s difficult to try to prepare for them ahead of time. Trying to keep an emergency crew on standby would require building extra personnel accommodations at the shop, working out on-call schedules and so forth.
Sales Manager Jennifer Gerken said Porta Kleen responded to many quick-turnaround requests for mobile showers and restrooms from areas of the United States that suffered storm damage. “The drivers have very short notice to leave, and many will stay down there for a few days,” she said.
For example, Driver Bob Hartman headed south shortly after the storm and spent a significant amount of time there helping to set up trailers as they arrived, including in hard-hit Asheville, North Carolina.
Gerken said larger companies ordered trailers for their employees and their families to use until all utilities were restored, and an outlet mall ordered trailers to be parked in its large parking area for community use. “Different companies ordered equipment for different reasons,” she said.
Division Manager Christopher Waite said the Porta Kleen sanitation side of the business had no delays in service because the branches are in Kentucky and Ohio. “We have received an increase of requests in the south, though, when it comes to the need for restroom trailers,” he said.
It’s agreed that the Savannah branch fared well during and after Helene, but it won’t be the last time a hurricane threatens the Southern Region. “We are currently in the process of developing a more specific Weather Crisis Job Aid, which will provide targeted guidelines and protocols to enhance our preparedness for severe weather conditions,” said EHS Manager Anthony Tagliaferro.
In the wake of any significant event, Tagliaferro said it's important to conduct a thorough review, focusing on lessons learned and identifying improvements to ensure everyone is ready for future incidents.