Emergency Planning

FEMA has prepared a document, Special Events Contingency Planning, to assist in planning for emergencies during special events. While the document is very long, it may offer a lot of good ideas for your event.

Since Florida faces so many tropical storms and hurricanes, we thought it would be a good idea to include a few tips and ideas here from our experiences over the years. Anderson Rentals was not directly affected when Hurricane Andrew came to our state but we were contacted by a number of agencies and businesses, including other portable sanitation companies, to supply portable restrooms during the recovery. Here are some things to consider.

Ordering Portable Restrooms – wait until after the storm?

Unfortunately, if you wait until after the storm has hit, you may find there are no restrooms available! Sanitation companies in the same area have been hit by the same winds, rain and flooding you’ve experienced. Their employees may be stranded due to impassable roads and are trying to recover from damage to their homes. The company’s storage facilities may have been damaged or destroyed as well as their equipment. Companies located outside the general area of destruction will be trying to handle as many orders as they can but priorities are generally given to government agencies handling large scale emergency services so deliveries will take many days or even weeks. Also, deliveries and servicing may not be possible if roads are blocked by debris. If the restrooms are ordered several days before the storm, you will at least have facilities available if water and electricity are out for awhile in your area. You will be charged even if the storm does not hit and the facilities are not used, but hurricane and storm tracking are always a gamble in this state. It’s often better to err on the side of being prepared than finding yourself on a long waiting list.

Portable Restrooms in the Area – a hurricane is coming!

Every time a possible hurricane or severe tropical storm is heading our way our office is flooded with calls from citizens demanding that all the portable restrooms in their neighborhood be removed immediately. Unfortunately, it is not possible. Our drivers are attempting to deliver all the restrooms that have been ordered as contingencies for emergency use as well as helping to prepare our storage yards around the state to prevent damages to our remaining facilities.
We ask callers who may have concerns to consider tying the restrooms that they are worried about to a structure or large tree that may be nearby. They can also be moved into the structure at the construction site if there is any area wide and tall enough to accomplish this. It’s also pointed out to them that they may be one of the lucky ones after the storm. If power and water go out, at least they may have a restroom nearby that they can use until services are restored!