LONG BEACH, Miss. – Members of Triton Systems' 15-employee Emergency Management Team continue providing disaster assistance to employees, more than two months after Katrina, and meet regularly to build on the company's master plan for disaster preparedness.
Recognizing that the potential for disaster can affect businesses anywhere, Triton's Emergency Management Team began developing its Disaster Preparedness Manual two years ago. According to a news release, hurricane preparedness remains the biggest chapter in that manual.
The planning and response of team members has been credited as one of the main reasons for a quick reopening of its two main facilities.
The team
Triton's chief financial officer and emergency-management team leader, Dan Thurtell, was one of the first Triton employees at the manufacturing plant after Katrina. "Our team began acting on the plan laid out in our manual when the storm moved into the Gulf."
In addition to leading the coordination of relief supplies and support for employees, Thurtell handled business and issues associated with the physical facility. Thurtell estimated physical property damage to have been between $100,000 and $150,000.
"The most devastating losses were suffered by employees, many of which lost their homes and personal possessions," said Thurtell. "Helping employees deal with such losses, whether personally or that of family and friends, was important to Triton. The welfare of our staff was our primary concern."
Thanks to these donations and coordinated efforts, Triton was able to provide temporary housing for more than 50 employees, and more than 200 of its 360 Long Beach employees were able to benefit from the relief efforts. Through the coordinated efforts of Thurtell and others on the relief team, food and supplies sent from Triton business partners around the country were distributed.
Donations of more than $500,000, which have been made to the Triton Employee Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, will continue to be used to assist employees.
Read also, Gulf Coast is on the mend.
