The Wake-Up Call

“The 2025 storm season has already delivered a wake-up call across the Ark-La-Tex. Just weeks ago, an EF-1 tornado tore through a north Shreveport neighborhood on April 2nd, preceded by another that struck North Highlands on March 4th. More recently, in early May, further severe weather brought confirmed tornadoes to other parts of Caddo Parish and significant storm effects, like power outages, to Shreveport. While these specific Shreveport tornadoes in March and April primarily damaged residential areas rather than major commercial districts, the aftermath consistently involved downed trees blocking access roads, widespread power outages lasting days, and businesses unable to serve customers even when their buildings remained intact. As a local technology partner, we monitored these events closely.

For the fortunate businesses that escaped direct damage, these recent events serve as a crucial reminder—next time, the path could cut right through your parking lot. The question isn’t whether severe weather will impact your operations again, but when, and whether you’ll be ready. That uncertainty can be a heavy burden for any business owner.

The Stakes: Why the Ark-La-Tex is Ground Zero for Business Disruption

Spring and summer in our tri-state region bring a perfect storm of threats that can cripple operations with little warning:

Tornadoes develop rapidly across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, causing devastating localized damage. Hurricane remnants bring widespread flooding, sustained winds, and dangerous spin-up tornadoes far inland. Severe thunderstorms deliver damaging hail, straight-line winds, and flash flooding throughout the season.

The result? Power outages, communication blackouts, compromised security, and displaced employees—grinding business operations to a halt across the region.

The Cost of Inaction: Stark Numbers You Can’t Ignore

The statistics paint a devastating picture for unprepared businesses:

• 40% of small businesses never reopen after a major disaster (FEMA)
• 25% fail within one year of a disaster event
• 28% of Arkansas businesses experienced monetary loss due to extreme weather in 2024
• IT downtime costs $137-$427 per minute for small businesses—not including reputational damage

Every minute your business is down, money walks out the door. For many, a major storm without preparation becomes an extinction-level event.

Success Story: The Power of Preparation

We understand these aren’t just statistics; they represent real businesses and livelihoods. Consider two Shreveport businesses hit by the same severe thunderstorm spawning a localized tornado:

Business A (Unprepared): Their building suffers roof damage and water ingress. Power is out for days. Their on-site server holding all client records is compromised. Result: weeks of crippling downtime, potential permanent data loss, and inability to serve clients.

Business B (Prepared with Trust Technology Consultants): Critical data continuously backed up to the cloud. Cloud-based phone system allows call rerouting. Employees have pre-configured laptops and secure remote access. Result: Within hours, they redirect communications, access data remotely, and continue essential operations. While their physical office recovers, their business never truly closes.

This is the difference between hoping for the best and planning for success.

Your Resiliency Blueprint: Three Critical Protection Layers from Trust Technology Consultants.

At Trust Technology Consultants, we help Ark-La-Tex businesses build resilience through three essential layers:

Layer 1: Unbreakable Connectivity

The Problem: Storms knock out internet and phone lines, isolating your business.

Our Solution: Redundant internet sources with automatic failover (fiber, wireless, LTE/5G backup) plus cloud-based VoIP systems that work from anywhere with internet.

Layer 2: Cloud-Protected Data & Applications

The Problem: On-site servers are vulnerable to physical damage and power outages.

Our Solution: Cloud-based Backup as a Service (BaaS) and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) ensure your critical data and applications are secure and accessible from anywhere.

Layer 3: Comprehensive Security

The Problem: Disasters create security vulnerabilities and prime opportunities for cybercriminals.

Our Solution: VPNs for secure remote access, Multi-Factor Authentication, robust endpoint security, and employee training to keep your defenses strong when teams are scattered.

Additional Services: We also provide cloud-based surveillance systems, contact center solutions for customer communication, and forward-looking AI tools for smarter disaster recovery.

Take Action NOW: Your Business Continuity Checklist

Don’t wait for storm season to peak. Take these immediate steps:

1. Assess Your Risks – Identify your most critical and vulnerable systems
2. Develop Your BCDR Plan – Cover IT, communications, and operational priorities
3. Implement the 3-2-1 Backup Rule – Three copies of data, two media types, one off-site
4. Test Your Recovery – Schedule regular backup restoration tests
5. Review Insurance Coverage – Ensure adequate protection for damage and interruption
6. Train Your Team – Everyone should know their role in your BCDR plan
7. Partner with Experts – Let us handle the complexity while you focus on your business

Next Steps: Don’t Let the Next Storm Write Your Business Obituary

At Trust Technology Consultants, with our roots firmly planted in Shreveport, we understand the unique challenges our region faces. We bring deep expertise in connectivity, cloud technology, cybersecurity, and comprehensive BCDR solutions to help your business not just survive the storm, but thrive in its aftermath.

The storm clouds are already gathering. The question is: Will your business weather the disruption?

Schedule Your Free Storm Readiness Assessment before severe weather season peaks. Available slots are filling quickly as we approach tornado season.

Don’t wait for the sirens to sound. Contact Trust Technology Consultants today.

Common Questions about BCDR

Q: Why is business continuity planning so important for companies in Ark-La-Tex? Business continuity planning is crucial because unprepared businesses face significant risks from storm-related downtime, including major financial losses (potentially $137-$427+ per minute), reputational damage, and even complete business failure—FEMA notes up to 40% of small businesses don’t reopen after a disaster.

Q: How can cloud technology help my business during a flood or tornado? Cloud technology protects your data by storing it off-site. Solutions like cloud backup (BaaS) and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) ensure your critical information and applications are safe and accessible remotely, even if your physical premises are damaged.

Q: What’s the first step in creating a disaster recovery plan? Conduct a thorough risk assessment to understand your specific vulnerabilities to regional threats, whether your business is in Shreveport, Monroe, Texarkana, Longview, or elsewhere in the Ark-La-Tex.

Q: How does Trust Technology Consultants help with storm preparedness? We act as your expert partner, assessing your needs and implementing tailored technology solutions (resilient internet, cloud backups, cybersecurity, and VoIP) to ensure business continuity and recovery for companies across the Ark-La-Tex.