LESSONS LEARNED
When Your World Comes Crashing Down
How Savvy MSPs Respond When
Disaster Happens
August 8 – 9 , 2023
A wildfire destroyed practically the entire community of Lahaina , Maui , incinerating thousands of structures including the Old Lahaina Courthouse and the Waiola Church . Along with the tragic loss of life , financial damages could easily exceed $ 5 billion .
September 28 , 2022
With winds gusting over 100 mph , Hurricane Ian dropped more than a foot of rain from Florida ’ s Gulf Coast to its Space Coast , causing widespread flooding , power outages , and over $ 50 billion in damages . Ian is considered the deadliest storm in almost a half-century .
May 22 , 2011
A devastating tornado slammed into Joplin , Missouri , reaching a maximum width of nearly one mile . The tornado destroyed over 4,000 buildings including hospitals and basic infrastructure , and damage estimates totaled $ 2.8 billion — more than any single tornado throughout US history .
This past year ’ s wildfires and heartbreaking news from Lahaina , Hawaii , made clear that horrific things can devastate an entire community in literally the blink of an eye . When fires , floods , and tornados strike , there ’ s only so much you can control , but you can prepare for the worst by listening to those who have survived and acting on what they discovered .
We interviewed MSPs from across the nation to find out what they saw , how they responded , and what they learned when their worlds came crashing down around them .
What They Saw
Mikol Westling , Maui Tech Solutions , Kahului , HI
Before the disaster , we ’ d received alerts about potential high-wind events due to Hurricane Dora passing 500 miles south of us . As an MSP , you think about wind-related items such as antennas , external access points , and potential power outages , so we were prepared for those threats .
We weren ’ t prepared for a firestorm with 60 to 80 mph winds , caused by a hurricane so far away you ’ d have to scroll down to see it on the weather map .
That morning we were alerted to a road closure due to a fire , but within a couple of hours , they said the fire was contained and the road opened back up . Later that day , however , road closure notifications started again in various parts of the island . As more fires broke out , the magnitude of the situation became apparent , and we went into survival mode .
Between the size of the fire , the winds , and everything else , you just feel helpless with all the uncertainty , because with the degraded communications of no cell service or internet and everything else , you really have nothing . And as the hours of uncertainty turned into days of minimal information , misinformation , fake news , and more , it became even more unsettling . You didn ’ t know if your home , your business , your staff , or anyone you knew had made it out safely .
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