MedSpeeders Show Resilient Support for Customers During Hurricane

In late June, Hurricane Beryl, a category 5 hurricane, swept through Houston, leaving devastation in its wake. The MedSpeed hub was not immune to the hurricane’s impact, and the local team leveraged our robust contingency plan and one another to overcome the challenging time.

As soon as forecasts indicated the hurricane’s path would reach Houston, the MedSpeed team mobilized, using their contingency planning. First, MedSpeed’s Houston Operations Manager, Ty Rivera, proactively alerted MedSpeed’s Logistics Service Representatives (LSRs) and our customers, preparing them for possible service disruptions. Ty informed the customers that MedSpeed would continue operating only as long as it was safe for our LSRs.

Next, Ty worked with MedSpeed Houston Operations Supervisor, Kyle Posey, Lead LSR, Arlene Thomas, and our customers to create a plan to prioritize the most critical stops in the event that service needed to continue before all of the roads were clear. The team also stockpiled necessary supplies and fuel in case these items were unavailable after the hurricane.

When the hurricane reached Houston, the team remained on standby, ready to return to the road as soon as conditions improved. By 5:30 a.m. the morning the hurricane hit, Ty sent out a final call: it was no longer safe to drive. However, just 12 hours later, as the storm began to subside, she notified her team that they could return to work once it was safe to do so.

The response was remarkable. Within hours, Ty began receiving messages from LSRs eager to get back on the road. MedSpeed’s core value, “We work as one team,” was on full display as not a single LSR was absent. Many went the extra mile— one in particular Michael Hubbard, Lead LSR, quite literally—by offering rides to colleagues who had no power at their homes due to the storm. Gary Brewster, LSR,  had just returned from San Antonio. He normally works a scheduled route in the morning, however he offered to come in that evening to assist.

MedSpeed maintained clear communication with our customers throughout the event, ensuring they were informed about service interruptions and any expected delays. One of the team’s standout moments came when a client’s lab lost power and lacked a generator. The team sprang into action, running an extra route for two weeks to keep the lab operational.

Houston, as a city, faced more than just flooding. Power outages were widespread, and gas shortages became a serious concern. To help alleviate this, one LSR took on the responsibility of monitoring local gas stations, ensuring MedSpeed vehicles remained fueled so that the rest of the team could focus on deliveries without the added worry of finding gas.

Even as many MedSpeeders faced personal challenges, like losing power in their own homes. Audrey Journet, MedSpeed LSR, had a large tree block her in. Once the fireman removed the tree,  Audrey notified her management team immediately to share that she would be in to work overnight.

Ty went above and beyond to ensure her team was supported. Knowing that many couldn’t cook or refrigerate food, she and Kyle arranged for meals to be provided at the local MedSpeed hub.

In the face of a natural disaster, our Houston market stood strong, embodying teamwork and commitment. LSRs, Ronald Kinney, Donald Williams, Thomas Mitchell, Thomas Suarez, Kimberly Hernandez, and Waleed Hakimi, all worked immediately after the storm with enthusiasm to help. Our customer was very appreciative of all the extra efforts put into place.

We would like to thank our team for ensuring that patients in the community experienced minimal disruption to their care, despite the tragic circumstances.