Mitigating Weather and Natural Disaster Risks in Logistics

From hurricanes and wildfires to floods and winter storms, extreme weather and natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity. According to NOAA’s 2025 hurricane outlook, this year’s Atlantic season is expected to be “above normal,” bringing as many as 19 named storms and up to 10 hurricanes. With flooding accounting for 70% of all weather-related supply chain disruptions in 2024, this year is likely to be a repeat, making logistics risk management a priority conversation to have when developing an operational strategy.

Tornadoes and wildfires are also frequent supply chain disruptors. For instance, tornadoes destroyed a Dollar Tree distribution center in Oklahoma, forcing them to pivot so their local storefronts continued to receive deliveries. Widespread wildfires in Southern California caused power outages, evacuations, road closures, and damage to highways, railways, and airports, disrupting the movement of goods.

These events don’t just affect isolated regions; they can paralyze entire networks. Rail lines have been washed out, highways closed, ports shut down, and distribution centers destroyed. And even when the physical damage is localized, the downstream effects can ripple across transportation routes, inventory availability, and customer service levels.

In today’s volatile climate, logistics risk management requires proactive preparation for the inevitable versus a reactive response. As weather and disaster events intensify, businesses need logistics resilience and business continuity planning.

The limits of forecasting and tech tools

Logistics operations rely heavily on digital tools to monitor shipments, forecast disruptions, and respond in real time. While visibility platforms and predictive models have improved dramatically, they can’t prevent delays or solve the problem when disaster strikes.

During sudden or large-scale events like wildfires, hurricanes, or flash floods, even the most advanced systems can be caught off guard. Predictive models often struggle with rapidly shifting conditions, and alerts alone aren’t enough if there’s no infrastructure or plan of action to drive logistics risk management efforts.

An overreliance on software and fulfillment technology without operational plans can increase vulnerability. Data must be paired with action plans and agile infrastructure. Otherwise, organizations risk knowing a disruption is coming, while being powerless to respond effectively.

Key operational strategies for risk mitigation

Operational strategy determines what happens once technology identifies a disturbance. Building logistics resilience and upgrading logistics risk management efforts requires proactive measures that prepare your network to adapt, reroute, and recover with minimal disruption.  Start by leveraging these best practices: 

• Diversified routing: Alternate carrier networks and flexible transportation modes reduce dependency on a single lane or mode. When flooding, fires, or infrastructure damage close primary routes, having vetted backup options, such as regional carriers or rail-to-truck transfers, helps maintain service levels.
• Facility preparedness: Equip facilities with the infrastructure to operate through extreme weather events. Install backup generators for power outages, maintain storm drainage systems to prevent flooding, and ensure fire protection systems are up to code. On-site safety protocols and training are also essential to keep employees safe and operations running during an emergency.
• Inventory positioning: Stage inventory in multiple locations to avoid over-reliance on a single distribution node. Use a multi-node distribution strategy to pre-position goods closer to customers or move inventory strategically ahead of a storm. This ensures you can continue fulfilling orders even if a key facility is taken offline or transit routes are disrupted.
• Contingency SOPs: Develop and maintain emergency operations playbooks that outline clear response steps for various scenarios. Crosstrain staff so they’re prepared to step into multiple roles when needed and empower local leadership to make decisions quickly.
• Communication protocols: Establish real-time communication channels between warehouses, carriers, customers, and vendors to manage expectations, align stakeholders, and keep freight moving with minimal confusion or delay. Define clear escalation paths and designate who is responsible for sending updates when plans change.

Role of 3PLs in disaster resilience

Experienced third-party logistics providers (3PLs) play a critical role in strengthening customer preparedness and enabling fast, coordinated responses when disruptions occur.

A key advantage is facility-level visibility and control for a fast response, enabling 3PLs to act immediately when conditions change. For instance, during a winter freeze in the Midwest, a provider can shift outbound shipments from a temporarily closed facility to another distribution center in its network of locations, avoiding service interruptions and keeping customer deliveries on track.

Local management teams know how to adapt and execute under pressure. For example, if flooding impacts key freight corridors in the Southeast, local teams quickly assess facility conditions, adjust staffing, and reroute freight through alternate hubs without waiting for direction from a corporate office hundreds of miles away.

Disaster response depends on cross-functional coordination across transportation, warehousing, and inventory teams. A unified playbook enables the quick reallocation of labor, redirection of shipments, and enhanced inventory visibility, all of which are crucial in the event of a storm or wildfire that threatens to disrupt operations.

3PLs also offer existing relationships with carriers and emergency contacts to keep freight moving. For example, if a hurricane shuts down a major port on the Gulf Coast, a provider can leverage these relationships and contacts to quickly redirect inbound containers and secure over-the-road carriers to complete delivery.

In times of disruption, the right 3PL combines flexible infrastructure, experienced teams, and a coordinated network to help businesses build a strong logistics risk management strategy and allow them to maintain continuity during turbulent times.

Hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, with peak risk in August through October. While the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. are at risk, the impact of hurricanes often extends far beyond coastal areas, affecting the Midwest and East Coast.

To reduce disruption and maintain continuity, shippers and logistics providers should take the following steps now: 

• Review carrier plans for route disruption and detours. Understand how primary carriers plan to respond if key routes are closed or ports are shut down. Confirm availability of alternate lanes and modes and identify backup transportation partners.
• Pre-stage goods in inland or alternate facilities. Moving inventory from high-risk coastal zones to inland distribution centers helps ensure product availability during and after a storm.
• Audit communication chains and escalation protocols. Ensure that internal and external contacts are up to date and that everyone knows who is responsible for sending updates during an event. Clear escalation paths help prevent confusion and delays when time is critical.
• Confirm facility readiness. Evaluate roof integrity, flood risk, drainage systems, generator function, and other infrastructure essentials. Conduct pre-storm checks and ensure that staff are trained on emergency response protocols.

Experienced logistics providers with operations in hurricane-prone regions bring added confidence and nimble logistics risk management throughout the season. They combine local knowledge with operational readiness, inland facilities, pre-vetted transportation partners, and coordinated SOPs to help customers stay ahead of disruption.

The future of disaster-resilient logistics

As climate volatility increases, resilience becomes a competitive advantage. This starts with prioritizing logistics risk management. Companies best positioned to succeed are the ones that plan ahead, adapt early, and maintain continuity when disruption strikes.

Technology will continue to play a key role in forecasting and visibility. However, operational partners drive the response. The shift from recovery-focused logistics to continuity-focused strategy depends on strong infrastructure, transparent processes, and experienced teams.

WSI enables customers to stay ahead of disruption (not just react) by combining technology, trained teams, and flexible infrastructure.  If you’re rethinking your logistics risk management strategy, talk to an expert at WSI to upgrade your logistics risk management strategy and build a more resilient, prepared supply chain.