Natural disasters don’t just disrupt communities — they can quickly derail business operations. For portable sanitation operators who are often among the first responders for a natural disaster, it’s critical to not be caught off guard when disaster affects your own operations.
Disaster preparedness is about having a simple, usable plan in place before one happens. Inspired by a preparedness-focused course PSAI delivered at the 2026 WWETT Show earlier this year, this article outlines practical considerations and next steps operators can use to begin or improve their company’s disaster preparedness plan, so critical decisions aren’t made under pressure.
Area-specific
Disaster risks vary widely by geography. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, winter storms, earthquakes and extreme heat all pose different challenges depending on where you operate. Beyond regional threats, operators should also consider internal disasters such as structure fires, flooding from plumbing failure or utility outages that can impact operations just as severely. The first step in preparedness is simple risk awareness. Ask yourself what disasters are the highest risk to your business.
Define order
At the core of any preparedness plan is a clear priority order. People always come first. Personnel safety must outweigh operational demands, which means knowing when to slow down or stop operations entirely. Making that call in advance, rather than in the middle of a crisis, protects employees and removes uncertainty when it matters most. Once people are safe, attention can turn to protecting physical assets such as facilities, trucks, inventory and equipment, followed by minimizing financial and revenue impacts.
Strong communication is another critical element. Operators should have a plan for how they will communicate with employees, customers, vendors and partners before, during and after a disruptive event. This includes identifying who makes decisions, how updates will be shared and what backup systems exist if normal channels are unavailable.
Long term
Preparedness also means thinking beyond the immediate disruption. Financial and administrative impacts such as insurance claims, payroll interruptions, customer credits and documentation can linger long after operations resume. Planning for these realities in advance supports faster, more stable recovery. Take steps such as having your assets recorded. Be familiar with your insurance policies and where to find them. Consider the possibility of a natural disaster when managing your operational reserves.
One effective mindset is “countdown thinking.” Consider what actions should happen 72 hours out, 24 hours out, during the event and in the days that follow. Just as important, plans should not live in a binder on a shelf. Teams should be trained on the plan, drills should be conducted when possible and lessons learned from real events should be incorporated moving forward.
Proactive vs. reactive
The key takeaway is simple and repeatable: prepare before disaster strikes. Don’t improvise under pressure. Protect people first, then assets, then revenue. Recovery is a process, and each experience offers lessons that strengthen your business for the future.
Here are basic next steps you can take to begin your disaster preparedness plan:
- Identify your top three disaster risks
- Write down a basic response plan
- Review it annually and after real events
- Involve your team — this affects them as much as it affects you
Through training and education, organizations like the Portable Sanitation Association International help operators build this kind of preparedness, reinforcing professionalism and resilience across the industry. As you develop your plan, know that members of your PSAI community are here to be your sounding board and support you along the way.
