Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1418957
18 I PSAI Association Insight, October 13, 2021 customer — either directly or to another PRO needing assistance. Understanding proper pricing, available inventory, and priority of who receives the same can be a challenge. Ensuring frequency of service and minimum service commitments are also very important. Daily service is the norm and often the prices offered are all-inclusive of rental and service, plus a minimum of a week or two followed by weekly pricing thereafter. On top of each request needing equipment and service without delay and often within hours, you must ensure that all documentation, proposals, terms and conditions, and then work orders are complete for everything deployed. Having a single person to filter and receive all these requests is the key to maximizing your ability to respond. Knowing when to say "no" to requests is also very important. Holding firm to your price, terms, and delivery times may mean some requests will go elsewhere. Let them go, as others will find you and new requests will appear. Balance is also found by relying on other PROs many states away. When Gustav (Aug. 2008) and Ike (Sept. 2008) hit Houston and Galveston back-to-back, there was a large need for shower trailers. I had left Mr. John and was offering my consulting services to the industry. I teamed up with Russ Perkins at Nature's Calling in Charleston — and from New Jersey, I coordinated finding and sending over 60 trailers in support of the prime FEMA contractor. While persistence helped, my vast network of contacts from nine years at Mr. John (1997–2006) enabled me to fill these requests faster than many others. Try to imagine what "balance" means when all your equipment is committed and sold out and you keep receiving requests for more! Find your company's "balance" as you are faced with stretching further than you ever imagined. Responding to a Disaster (continued from page 17) What Does Every Disaster Need and Request? • Immediate delivery! Often same day or within 24 to 48 hours. • It begins with standard plastic toilets on daily service. • Then they need fence with screening to surround the devastated building. • Next is 30–40 cubic yard dumpsters and trash trailers doing many switches per day. • Light towers and generators are needed, especially when power is knocked out. • Telecommunications and solar security trailers may be needed for larger disasters. • All sorts of sleeper solutions for utility crews and other man camps become necessary for long-term response. • Freshwater delivery to fill holding tanks is essential. • Lots and lots of laundry, shower, and restroom trailers, especially for large-scale events. • Bulk wastewater pumping and disposal. (continued on page 19)