Picking up the pieces. Utilizing disaster recovery project management to improve readiness and response time

When Hurricane Georges hit the Florida Keys in 1998, deflecting its course and putting Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA within its potential path, the local refinery implemented standard hurricane readiness plans. A shutdown of the refinery was initiated when the storm´s forecasted path changed from landfall at the mouth of the Mississippi River to landfall to the east along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. All processes were brought to a halt, and the entire refinery was brought to a stop. The four primary buildings, including facility maintenance, were flooded in up to 64 in of salt water. The destruction and disruption was almost overwhelming. The next week was spent in an effort to access the scope of the damage and develop a strategy to recover from the disaster. Since nothing of this magnitude had ever been experienced, all existing planning was insufficient to undertake such a task. This paper discusses the development of the recovery plan and the scope of the work. Establishing priorities, equipment reliability, and economic considerations are discussed. Execution of the recovery plan is described including communication . The key points outlined in this article can be of great assistance identifying key areas in planning and executing a successful recovery.