Restoring Distribution Operations Faster After Disaster

The High Cost of Downtime in Distribution

For distribution centers, speed and continuity are the lifeblood of the business. When storms, floods, or other disasters hit, the ripple effect of downtime can be immense: missed deliveries, strained customer relationships, and lost revenue. Research shows that the average cost of downtime can soar to $336,000 per hour according to Gartner, while IBM notes some large enterprises face costs of $400,000+ per hour, and ITIC reports that 33%of firms estimate $1–5 million per hour in losses. In distribution, where just-in-time fulfillment is the standard, even a single day offline can derail entire supply chains.

Weather Disasters Are Rising in Frequency

The risk is not hypothetical, it’s accelerating. In 2023 alone, the U.S. endured a record 28 weather and climate disasters, each causing over $1 billion in damage, with combined costs of $92.9 billion. Floods, hurricanes, and severe storms don’t just damage infrastructure; they create access and safety hazards that can prevent teams from even assessing facilities. For distribution facilities, where throughput and uptime are critical, rapid disaster recovery planning is no longer optional.

Why Speed Matters More Than Ever

The difference between restoring operations in hours versus days can determine whether customers wait out a disruption or switch to competitors. Studies show that 83%of business leaders now report a “medium to high” commitment to supply chain risk management, with increasing investment in continuity and resilience measures. A well-designed disaster recovery program ensures that inspections, emergency repairs, and mitigation steps can begin immediately reducing costly delays and keeping distribution schedules intact.

Building a Smarter Recovery Plan

Strong disaster recovery for distribution centers isn’t just about cleaning up damage, it’s about proactive preparation:

• Pre-disaster inspections to identify vulnerabilities like roof integrity, drainage, and backup power readiness.
• Staging resources in advance to ensure crews and materials can mobilize quickly after impact.
• Real-time communication tools that allow facility managers to track progress and confirm when locations are safe for reopening.

Facilities that take these steps reduce both the severity of damage and the time it takes to get operations back online.

How Lessen Accelerates Recovery

Lessen’s disaster recovery services are designed to help organizations minimize downtime when disaster strikes. Through One by Lessen™,facility managers gain real-time visibility into inspections and repairs across every impacted location, while our centralized support team keeps recovery moving until operations are fully restored.

For distribution leaders, disaster recovery is no longer about “if,” but “when.” Partnering with Lessen means reducing downtime from days to hours—protecting revenue, customer trust, and supply chain resilience. Learn more about Lessen’sDisaster Recovery services.

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