The most important tool you need to manage a massive influx of material following a major event.
Natural disasters can strike at any time. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and other catastrophic events can cause incalculable damage to property and communities. Lives are lost, homes are destroyed, and billions of dollars must be spent to get people back on their feet.
In many cases, damage sustained by natural disasters can lead to a massive surge in scrap metal. When Hurricane Harvey hit southeast Texas in 2017, roughly 500,000 cars sustained significant water damage. The majority were total losses and had to be scrapped.
And it’s not just cars. Natural disasters can destroy:
- Household appliances, such as washers and dryers, refrigerators, ovens, furnaces, and more.
- Construct materials, such as fencing, roofs, awnings, and metal siding.
- Infrastructure, such as steel beams.
If these items are beyond repair, they are most often scrapped.
The role of scrap yards in natural disaster recovery
All that waste material has to go somewhere—and fast. When natural disaster strikes, cleanup crews are working round-the-clock to find missing people and keep survivors safe. But that’s difficult to do if roads, neighborhoods, and walkways are strewn with refuse. Clearing out waste material quickly to make way for search and rescue teams is absolutely vital.
This is where scrap yards come in. Scrap yards offer a designated space to put those many tons of waste materials without resorting to illegal dumping. Efficient intake of scrap metals and other materials can make a meaningful difference for the recovery process.
But not every scrap yard is prepared for a massive surge in materials. When Hurricane Ike hit the southwestern states in 2008, some scrap yards took in 30% more scrap metal than usual. Many reported being “”We are slammed… We have never been so busy in our lives.”
Thankfully, there is a solution for scrap yard owners in areas prone to large-scale disasters.
How scrap yards can prepare for natural disasters
Handling a massive influx of materials requires fast processing capabilities and advanced reporting and inventory features. And Scaleit is proud to offer the best truck scale software on the market. With Scaleit software, scrap yards can remain nimble when the unexpected happens.
Scaleit was designed by industry professionals with years of hands-on experience. We built Scaleit to include all the features you need to handle natural disasters.
Faster intake of scrap materials.
When it comes to natural disaster recovery, every second counts. Precious minutes are wasted when you’re filling out endless forms and fussing with paper filing systems. Using a manual ticketing system takes time that your community may not have.
Truck scale software dramatically accelerates the process of accepting new materials. Every step of the process is automated, and the system stores information about drivers and vehicles for future transactions. This allows for much faster intake, so all that material isn’t cluttering the streets.
Specialized inventory features for temporary staging areas.
Some truck scale software programs come with advanced inventory tools called “bins.” A “bin” is simply a designated area, such as a shelf, pile, or other location, where a certain material is being stored. During normal operations, bins are fantastic for materials being stored in multiple places. The bin feature tracks quantities at each individual location rather than simply reporting total inventory of that material.
During disaster relief, recovery crews may designate temporary staging areas to manage debris and scrap. This allows for faster removal of waste from homes, yards, and other vital areas. These materials can then be taken to their final destination at a later time.
In some cases, these temporary staging areas may be used for scrap materials that will eventually be sent to the yard. The bin feature allows scrap yards to keep a record of these staging areas and plan for eventual intake. This can eliminate a lot of confusion and overwhelm.
Immediate reporting of inventory for more efficient sales.
Manual inventory systems make it impossible for scrap yard owners to know exactly what they have on hand. And in the days immediately following a natural disaster, inventory changes constantly.
Many businesses make strategic scrap purchases after a natural disaster, when inventory is at an all-time high. But handling these sales is difficult without a clear, up-to-the-minute report of inventory.
Truck scale software is key to capitalizing on any buying frenzy that may occur after a natural disaster. Advanced inventory features make it easy to generate accurate, current reports of what’s in stock.
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As a scrap yard owner, you can play a vital role in helping your community recover from a natural disaster. Talk to our team to learn more about how truck scale software makes you more efficient >