The Raymond Corporation and its authorised Service Centers offer recovery planning services.

Raymond Corp and its authorised service centre network have honed customised planning and preparedness services to help customers cope with a disaster or emergency.

"As part of our plan, we speak with our customer contacts on a regular basis as a storm approaches to find out how many stores are expected to be affected by the hurricane," says Edgar Warriner, Raymond vice president of national accounts. Service centres in an area can stage equipment outside a hurricane region for quick delivery after the storm subsides.

The aim is to resume customer material handling operations in warehouses, distribution centres and retail outlets and minimise forklift downtime.

After Hurricane Ike attacked the Gulf Coast in September 2008, four branches of Malin Integrated Handling Solutions in Texas and Louisiana provided extra equipment to 30 home improvement retail stores - including 61 fully charged Raymond electric forklifts and extra batteries. Raymond with Addison, Texas-based Malin and the unidentified retailer had developed a disaster recovery plan that included having fully charged equipment available to serve an expected business surge during the initial rebuilding phase.

Often, a disaster causes power outages that prevents recharging forklift batteries.

The service centre network of Greene-based Raymond includes 21 North American dealerships with 105 branches and more than 2,200 service technicians.