The Houston, Texas, metro area has been grappling with severe flooding this week, as some areas have reported up to 20 inches of rain since Sunday night. With road closures and power outages, the Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) and PPAI reached out to industry companies in the region to see how their businesses were fairing.
On Monday, many industry businesses in the affected areas were closed or operating with skeleton crews. A number have reopened today, although with employees dealing with flooding at their homes, hazardous travel conditions and school closures, not all are fully staffed. Other companies in the area remain closed or at reduced capacity, and many predict ongoing disruptions until the water recedes and services are fully restored.
Speaking to PPB Newslink, Peter Hirsch, MAS, president of Houston supplier Hirsch Gift (UPIC: HIRGIFT), says, “Yesterday we were closed as the area surrounding our location was heavily hit with floods. Fortunately, we are back up and running today with most of our staff returning to work and none of our staff suffering damage.”
PPAI stands ready to assist any industry companies affected by the flooding. The Association can also post business interruption notices through its publications and social media, and help connect members who need local assistance. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a state of emergency in nine counties in the area, and the RAC Business Recovery Fund will activate if the event is declared a federal disaster. Houston-area members who are affected by the floods should email BRF@ppai.org for assistance.
