Hurricanes Irma and Maria batter a company’s Caribbean assets
The situation
A global financial services company’s Caribbean assets were substantially damaged by two hurricanes in quick succession: Irma and Maria. After Irma struck, employees were released from work and told to shelter at home. They had no choice but to abandon branch offices containing physical currency and highly sensitive information. Immediately after the first hurricane, the client engaged Control Risks to provide on-site security and expertise to aid affected personnel, secure damaged branch offices, and facilitate initial recovery efforts. Then the second hurricane struck, further complicating the picture.
Control Risks' approach
To coordinate these efforts, Control Risks deployed a consultant to the institution’s global headquarters to serve as the lead point of contact for communications, operational, and crisis response. To the two dozen consultants already deployed for Hurricane Irma, Control Risks deployed eight additional tactical operators to Dominica to conduct search and rescue operations and secure critical assets. As the first risk management professionals on the ground, Control Risks was able to provide immediate medical support, life-saving supply distribution and physical security for the client’s personnel in the face of dangerous weather conditions, dire physical security threats, and almost nonexistent infrastructure. Recognising that there were many people in need of help, both expatriates and locals, the client authorised us to assist dozens of expat and local civilians our operatives encountered along the way.
The outcome
Having rapidly accounted for all the client’s employees, and provided them with medical, food, and housing assistance, the client was able to resume business in a remarkably short timeframe. Our support in facilitating the quick resumption of operations was key not only for the client’s business goals but in reinforcing its profile as a reliable and resilient supplier of financial services across the region.
