Natural and manufactured disasters pose a significant threat to the smooth operation of government agencies and special districts. A 2023 FEMA report notes that between 2018 and 2022, federally declared disasters caused an estimated $897.9 billion in damages. Events ranging from hurricanes and floods to cyberattacks and power outages can disrupt critical services, immobilize day-to-day operations and leave agencies scrambling for resources.
Forward-thinking procurement professionals can significantly lessen the impact of an unexpected disruption. By taking proactive steps to prepare and plan, you can ensure that essential supplies and services are readily available, minimizing delays in recovery efforts.
Building a Culture of Preparedness
Disaster preparedness is not just about responding to emergencies; it's about building an agency's resilience. Government procurement professionals are imperative in ensuring the continuity of essential services even during a crisis. Investing in disaster preparedness demonstrates responsible stewardship of public resources and allows the agency to focus on its core mission – serving the community – even in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Proactive Measures: Building a Resilient Procurement System 
A crucial element of disaster preparedness is ensuring the availability of critical supplies during emergencies. Procurement professionals can achieve this with robust inventory management practices. This includes:
Developing a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan: A well-defined plan outlines roles, responsibilities, communication channels and collaboration protocols with other departments like emergency management and public works. This ensures a coordinated and efficient response across all levels of the agency.
Inventory planning: A fundamental aspect of disaster preparedness involves maintaining an inventory of essential supplies with established minimum levels. Include items important to daily operations, as well as disaster-specific needs. Conduct a thorough risk assessment, considering the agency size and location, potential disaster scenarios and resulting hazards, and take into account potential lead times for resupply during disruptions.
Partnering with a cooperative: Cooperatives offer access to publicly awarded contracts with reliable vendors, eliminating the need for lengthy procurement processes during a crisis. Building solid relationships with key suppliers beforehand ensures they understand your agency's needs and can prioritize emergency orders.
Standardizing where possible: Standardizing equipment and supplies simplifies procurement, storage, and training for personnel using the equipment. It also reduces the risk of compatibility issues during a crisis.
Leveraging technology: Technology plays a vital role in disaster preparedness. E-commerce platforms are available anytime, but they are especially helpful to facilitate a faster and more efficient procurement process during emergencies.
Prioritizing Critical Supplies for Effective Response
Disasters often necessitate specialized equipment and supplies. Specific situations require particular attention in disaster preparation. Here are some key areas for procurement focus:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE needs may vary, depending on the potential disaster type. Consider masks and respirators, gloves, eye protection and protective clothing.
-1.png?width=320&height=320&name=Lawson%20Blog%20(1)-1.png)
- Spill containment and cleanup: Spill control materials like absorbents, booms, containment and neutralizers are necessary for mitigating environmental hazards caused by chemical releases or leaking hazardous materials.
- First-aid supplies: Well-equipped first-aid, trauma and bleed control kits readily available in various locations throughout the agency's facilities can provide immediate medical attention to those injured during the event. Regularly replenish these kits to ensure essential medical supplies are readily available.
Disaster preparedness goes beyond stockpiling resources. Clear communication and ongoing training are essential for a successful disaster response. Regularly update vendor contact lists and pre-negotiated contracts, ensuring all procurement personnel are familiar with them. Training programs should educate staff on emergency procedures, emphasizing streamlined processes for faster acquisition of critical supplies.
Ready to buy now? Lawson products are now available on OPUS! With a single login and single shopping cart, you can streamline your purchasing experience with OMNIA Partner's new e-commerce platform. It's free to all participants of OMNIA Partners! Click the button below to start purchasing!
Purchasing Disaster Recovery Supplies Faster & More Efficiently
Disasters are inevitable, but their impact can be mitigated through proactive procurement strategies. Do you need to upgrade or add more emergency essentials to your inventory? A cooperative contract with Lawson through OMNIA Partners can assist procurement professionals in gathering materials easily, quickly and at a national discounted price. Since the contract has been through a competitive bidding process and awarded publicly by a lead agency, public agencies can feel confident knowing they meet compliancy requirements.
About OMNIA Partners & Lawson Products
Lawson Products is a leading distributor of fleet and facility maintenance products in North America. In addition to offering a broad range of maintenance and repair products, Lawson offers site-level inventory management services and technical support. We serve state and local governments, school districts, colleges, and universities with our contract available through OMNIA Partners. Learn more about Lawson Products and their solutions below.