The 2004 hurricane
season was one of the most active, violent and costliest
in documented history. In just two months, the state
of Florida was battered by a record-breaking 4 hurricanes,
the effects of which were felt throughout Florida and
along the entire Eastern United States.
DTx, located in the costal community of Melbourne, Florida,
had never experienced a tropical cyclone since its inception
in 1991. Not since 1949 had a Category 3 hurricane traveled
near Melbourne. However, in the late summer of 2004,
DTx was challenged by the strong winds, heavy rain and
lightening from both Hurricane Frances and Hurricane
Jeanne.
As we come the long-awaited end of the 2004 season (6/1
– 11/30), DTx is proud to announce that successful
execution of its hurricane preparedness plan has resulted
in a swift recovery and a return to business as usual.
Protecting Your Investment
The DTx Hurricane Protection Program is designed to
ensure the safety of our employees and to safeguard
your investment with DTx. The program is divided into
three phases: Hazard Mitigation, Preparedness and Recovery.
Hazard Mitigation
DTx works year round to maintain the highest level
of disaster readiness. Our corporate offices &
production facility were selected for their distance
from floodplains, as defined by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). The 20,000 square foot
facility is structured to prevent predictable
damage from disaster with features like interior
firewalls, solid concrete construction and hurricane
resistant windows. As standards change, the building
is updated to meet the newest safety requirements.
To ensure all equipment and inventory is fully
covered in the event of a disaster, we schedule
our annual insurance review shortly before hurricane
season begins.
Preparedness
DTx utilizes a multi-level action plan to respond
to potential disasters based on threat severity,
probability and timeframe. Our executive management
team analyzes information provided by the National
Weather Service to determine the most effective
course of action in the event of a natural disaster
warning. Preparatory actions range from inventory
elevation & dry-in to full-scale equipment,
inventory and data evacuation. DTx management
communicates this comprehensive plan to DTx staff
both verbally and in written form. The program
includes methods for communication before, during
and after the storm, preparation activities &
responsibilities and recovery initiation activities
& responsibilities.
Recovery
Recovery methods vary based on the method of preparation
and the level of any incurred damage. After the
storm, DTx management defines a complete recovery
strategy and communicates the plan to all staff
members. The program includes employee assistance
to help those adversely affected by the storm.
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Frances –September 5, 2004
In late August, Hurricane Frances, then a Category 4
on the Saffir-Simpson scale, began threatening the entire
East coast of Florida. Spanning over 200 miles in diameter,
Frances was a slow-moving monster with an eye for Central
Florida. Due to the high probability of a direct and
forceful impact, DTx took action.
All inventory was grouped based on availability, value
and production & delivery schedule.
Level 1, “Critical Path” inventory, consisting
of end-of-life components and high value items not scheduled
for production within the next 8 weeks, was removed
from our warehouse and stocked in a neutral location
not impacted by the storm. Servers and other important
data were backed-up, removed and stored in separate,
neutral locations.
Level 2 inventory, items scheduled for production and
delivery within 8 weeks, including associated engineering
documents, software and ERP planning data, were packaged
for interim production in a temporary integration facility.
DTx made arrangements with several key suppliers to
stage an emergency integration facility at their operating
environment if needed.
Remaining Level 3 inventory and equipment were moved
to interior rooms protected by firewalls, sealed and
elevated. DTx also contracted with a mechanical engineer
to design custom door braces to better withstand the
enormous pressure of hurricane force winds.
The large eye of Hurricane Frances made landfall near
Sewall’s Point, Florida as a Category 2 storm
on Sunday, 5 September 2004. Winds were estimated at
105 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 960 millibars.
DTx sustained minimal damage from Hurricane Frances
and was able to initiate recovery as soon as the storm
passed. Production was restored within just a few days.
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Jeanne – September 26, 2004
A few short weeks after Frances came ashore, Hurricane
Jeanne, an erratic Category 2 hurricane, began looming
in the Atlantic. DTx postponed the return of Critical
Path inventory, which had been transferred to a neutral
location in preparation for Frances.
Jeanne’s path was unclear until just days before
its arrival in late September. With less than 60 hours
to prepare and winds below Category 3 in force, DTx
chose to retain its Level 2 and Level 3 inventory.
All inventory and equipment was protected, elevated
and moved to interior, firewall protected rooms. Data
was backed-up and removed to a safe location.
Jeanne made landfall as a Category 3 storm between West
Palm Beach and Fort Piece, Florida on Sunday, September
26, 2004. Winds were estimated near 115 mph.
As with Frances, DTx sustained minimal damage from Hurricane
Jeanne and was able to restore services within 24 hours.
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Buy with Confidence!
At DTx, our mission is to deliver consistent quality,
service and value to all our Customers, all the time.
You can rely on us to protect your investment and deliver
on our promises.
If you have any questions about DTx or our disaster
mitigation program, please feel free to contact us at
any time.
About DTx
DTx, Inc. is based in Melbourne, Florida and specializes in providing embedded computing solutions for medical device manufacturers. Unlike mass-produced technology like cell-phones or personal computers, medical device makers must adhere to strict regulatory requirements. DTx’s unique Planned Technology Control™ Program resists the rapid changes in commercial technology that can jeopardize regulatory certifications by constantly tracking even the smallest components. DTx delivers stable, managed computing solutions whose life cycles far exceed commercial marketplace offerings. Services include custom product design and development, conformance engineering, manufacturing, supply chain management, product warranty and life cycle management.
