The Calm Before the Storm: Reflections, Thoughts and Predictions as We Enter the Peak of the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season

- Ilissa Miller, CEO, iMiller Public Relations, says:

The peak of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season is upon us.  As the East Coast prepares for what is forecasted to be an ‘above normal to possibly extremely active’ next three months, we are compelled to reflect on the past and plan for the future, while facing some harsh realities in the process.

The last decade has seen a substantial rise in Atlantic hurricane and tropical storm activity, causing devastating effects to coastal cities, their businesses, and residents.  Moreover, not only has the frequency of these storms increased - so have their intensity and duration.  We have been fortunate enough to enjoy very limited activity in the first half of the 2013 hurricane season, but research and predictions from expert sources heed warning of a calm before the impending storm.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2013 season is expected to bring 13 to 29 named tropical storms and hurricanes.

So what are the reasons behind this growing number of hurricanes and tropical storms?  Many experts attribute the environmental changes to the carelessness of our own population.  According to National Geographic article ‘Rising Seas’, we have warmed the Earth by more than a full degree Fahrenheit over the past century, and raised sea level by about eight inches by releasing carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.  This more dangerous mixture of rising air and water temperatures  and raised sea levels combine to form the now more than ever prevalent threat of destructive hurricanes and incessant flooding.  Unfortunately, the damage we have inflicted on our atmosphere is irreversible, leaving us with only one choice: to prepare.

Cities all along the Atlantic Coast have been working diligently to implement protection plans and emergency procedures following the devastating effects of October 29, 2013, the day that Hurricane Sandy hit their shores.  In New York City, which bore the brunt of Sandy’s wrath, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a $19.5 billion plan which included the construction of levees, local storm-surge barriers, sand dunes, oyster reefs, and more than 200 other measures to protect New York City residents and businesses.  While these emergency procedures and architectural developments will certainly provide some level of protection for our coastal cities in the future, they will more than likely take years, if not decades, to analyze, deploy and fully implement.  What if the next Super Storm is tomorrow? What precautionary measures is your business taking to prepare today?

Many organizations are developing and deploying solid Business Continuity Plans to manage and mitigate their risk as well as protect their reputation.  Crucial factors of these BC plans include Disaster and Workplace Recovery, as well as the colocation of IT infrastructure in secure data center facilities to ensure critical uptime and redundancy.  Lam Cloud Solutions, an innovative data center and data center solutions provider based in New Jersey, is at the forefront of this movement. 

Lam Cloud’s mission-critical data center facilities in Cranbury, NJ and across the nation provide businesses with the resiliency, carrier-neutral connectivity and diverse fiber routes needed to take the next Super Storm head on – and win.   The company’s world-class team of Business Continuity experts works with your organization to develop and deploy a customized and proven BC strategy for your business.  As New Jersey’s first and largest Super Workplace Recovery Center, Lam Cloud’s Cranbury facility features over 3,000 Workplace Recovery seats, enabling your business to continue operating in the event that your business site is compromised.  Lam Cloud also offers Disaster Recovery backup server cabinets, secure Backup and Archiving Solutions, as well as Server and Desktop Virtualization.

To learn more about how to protect your business from the next Super Storm leveraging Lam Cloud’s Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Workplace Recovery solutions, visit www.lamcloud.com.