Five Steps for Bulk Fuel Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane preparedness is crucial with hurricane season upon us. If you’re in Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts, or Maryland, it’s vital to have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in place designed explicitly for fueling.

What is the fuel for a hurricane?

The main fuel for a hurricane is warm ocean water. When the water evaporates, it adds heat and moisture to the air, which helps the storm grow. The warmer the water, the more energy the hurricane gets. That’s why hurricanes often get stronger over tropical seas.

Why Does Your Business Need a Hurricane Preparedness Plan?

Having a hurricane plan isn’t just smart—it’s essential. It gives your business a clear path to stay safe, reduce damage, and get back on track quickly when the storm passes.

To make sure you’re fully prepared, let’s dive into the 5 key things you should do next.

5 Essential steps of a business for hurricane fuel preparation.

#1 – Line Up Your Bulk Fuel Suppliers Ahead of Time

Make sure your business continuity plan includes at least three bulk fuel suppliers, both local and out-of-area. This helps ensure you’re not relying on a single source during a crisis—especially if one refinery goes offline. Bulk fuel delivery plays a key role in emergency response, so it’s important to confirm your account is active and in good standing with each vendor before hurricane season starts. Also, make sure they have your most up-to-date access details like gate codes and emergency contacts.

#2 – Warn Your Business Credit Card Companies

If a hurricane is coming your way, notify your business credit card providers. Let them know your company may have higher fuel costs and to expect unusual fuel purchase activity. Frequently, credit card providers will decline fuel charges of greater amounts unless notified in advance. Doing this will save you a lot of headaches.

#3 – Be Hurricane Smart And Plan For Temporary Fleet Yards

Don’t leave your vehicles unprotected. Line up a few possible temporary fleet yard locations.

Although you may never need a fleet yard, just knowing possible locations and vendors will help in contingency planning.

No matter what surprises hurricane season brings, you want to make sure your vehicles and heavy equipment are safe from high-winds, massive storms, and storm surges.

#4 – Plan for Hurricane Business Services

Make a list of all possible disaster expenses and create an internal cost sheet, vendor list, and purchase order plan. Being organized financially will make any unplanned and unusual purchases less stressful. FEMA also has a very thorough Business Contingency Plan you can download.

#5 – Make Sure Your Personnel Is Ready in Case of Disaster

Designate specific personnel that can be available 24×7 to help facilitate vendor response.

Giving your staff specific natural disaster duties and drilling these duties beforehand is vital.

Then, when a hurricane hits – everyone knows what to do and how to help facilitate their fuel providers and other vendors.

What do you need for hurricane preparedness?

Let’s see what we should consider for the emergency hurricane preparedness checklist.

Your emergency supply plan should cover both personal kits for employees and facility-level supplies to keep everyone safe and supported during a hurricane.

Employee Emergency Kit

Each employee should have a personal kit with essentials to last at least for 3 days:

Water – 1 gallon per person per day

Non-perishable food – High-energy snacks, canned meals, protein bars

Hygiene items – Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, wipes, feminine products

Medications – 7-day supply of prescriptions and necessary medical equipment (inhalers, EpiPens, insulin)

Cash – Small bills and coins (in case ATMs are down)

Important documents – Copies of ID, insurance, emergency contacts, and prescriptions (in a waterproof pouch)

Flashlight and extra batteries

Facility-Level Emergency Supplies

Keep these in a secure, accessible location to support all on-site staff for 3–5 days:

Emergency water – 1 gallon per person per day, plus extra for sanitation

Bulk food supplies – Freeze-dried meals, canned goods, energy bars

Coolers and ice packs – For perishable items or medication storage

Backup generator – With enough fuel for at least 72 hours

First aid supplies – Fully stocked and easily accessible

Extension cords and power strips – For safe equipment use

Emergency lighting – LED lanterns, rechargeable lights, glow sticks

Cleaning supplies – Disinfectant wipes, garbage bags, gloves, paper towels

Fire extinguishers – Up to date and in multiple areas

What you have to do during the storm?

If your business plans to shelter in place during a hurricane, it’s crucial to stick to key safety steps. As part of your hurricane preparedness for businesses, make sure staff stay clear of windows and exterior walls, keep emergency supplies close, and monitor updates through battery-powered radios. During hurricane season, a diesel tank for backup power should be checked and ready. Follow local emergency instructions, including shutting off utilities if advised—and above all, stay inside until officials say it’s safe to leave.

Ricochet Fuel is Here to Help in Case of Disaster

Hurricanes and natural disasters are not are created equal. And, most of the time they are unpredictable. Along with that, each hurricane category and its landfall can affect logistics and supply differently. For example, fuel supply in the Gulf of TX might be cut off, but that may not happen in other landfall locations. Each area is different whether local or statewide all across Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Florida, or Louisiana. Don’t forget, refinery shutdown is a real possibility like what we saw during Harvey and Ike. In hurricane season, you need to prepare for an impact on fuel supply.

Ricochet Fuel is here to assist your business with their fuel needs and hurricane fuel preparation any way we can. Contact us today.

FAQs

1. Why is bulk fuel so important during a hurricane?

During a hurricane, power outages are common and can last for days. If your business relies on generators, trucks, or machinery, having bulk fuel on hand means you can keep things running when fuel stations are closed or out of supply. It’s not just about staying open—it’s about keeping your operations safe and ready to respond when others can’t.

2. How much fuel should we store before a storm?

It depends on the size of your operations, but a good rule is to have enough fuel to power your generators and critical equipment for at least 72 hours. For some businesses, that might mean topping off a diesel tank or securing an extra delivery before the storm hits. Always store it safely, away from high-risk areas, and keep it properly labeled and secured.

3. What should we check before using stored fuel?

Before a storm, inspect your fuel tanks for leaks, check levels, and make sure your fuel is clean—no water or sediment. Test your generators too, so you’re not caught off guard. This should be part of your regular hurricane preparedness for businesses checklist. Taking 10 minutes to double-check now can save hours of trouble later.

4. How to prepare your fuel tank for hurricane season?

To prepare your fuel tank for hurricane season, check for leaks, top it off to avoid condensation, and ensure it’s securely anchored and labeled. Also, test any connected equipment like generators to make sure everything runs properly.