NACS has released new resources to help convenience retailers develop or enhance their disaster planning procedures. “These resources are designed to help convenience retailers quickly and efficiently determine the best course of action for their teams to plan for an emergency, such as a hurricane, or bring their stores back into operation after events that happen with little to no warning, like a tornado or earthquake,” said Carolyn Schnare, NACS director of strategic initiatives. “By curating emergency plans and insights from our convenience industry community, we have developed useful and practical resources that retailers can adapt for their businesses.”
There are more than 153,000 convenience stores in the United States, of which about 122,000 stores sell an estimated 80% of the fuel in the country. Convenience stores also operate one-third of all ATMs. In areas affected by disasters, convenience stores with generators may serve as the only source of electricity to recharge phones, as well as keep fueling dispensers operational for first responders to access.
“Communities and emergency response teams depend on their local convenience stores in times of need, especially for much-needed food and fuel,” said Schnare. “These new NACS resources can help retailers evaluate their internal processes for reopening quickly and returning to normalcy.”
The NACS Convenience Store Emergency Planning and Job Aids is a result of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Infrastructure Protection Program Challenge, which was awarded to NACS in 2018 to identify and enhance how convenience stores can boost their resiliency as they plan, prepare and recover from a disaster, whether man-made or natural.
Guidance for retailers offered through the NACS Convenience Store Emergency Planning and Job Aids was developed from the current practices of more than 20 convenience retailers across the country, supplemented by government regulatory requirements and professional association recommendations.
The NACS resources, available for download at www.convenience.org/disasterplan, are customizable and include a plan evaluation document and 17 Job Aids of tasks and checklists for specific functions that store employees perform during disaster planning and recovery. The Job Aids can also be used as on-boarding training, refresher training or immediate training when emergency conditions approach.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Aloha Petroleum donated $12,048.88 to Make-A-Wish Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that grants life-changing wishes to children diagnosed with a critical illness. The funds were raised in March and April through Aloha Petroleum’s ongoing collection canister program at statewide participating Aloha Island Mart stores, as well as through a special promotion at the Aloha Island Mart Hawaii Kai.
Yesway joined with Operation Homefront to support the military and their families during a check presentation ceremony held at the chain’s corporate offices in Beverly, Massachusetts, on June 12. Yesway is a National Two-Star Partner with Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families so that they can thrive in the communities they worked to protect.
Alta Convenience raised $30,807 for Wings for Life through an in-store donation campaign. Wings for Life is a nonprofit that raises money for spinal cord research. Alta has raised more than $30,000 with the help of generous donations.
Parker’s donated $10,000 to the Lowcountry Autism Foundation, supporting the nonprofit organization’s Art Therapy Program in full for the year through the company’s Fueling the Community charitable giving program. Funds were raised through the sale of 20,000 reusable Autism Awareness travel cups, which are available at Parker’s locations throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
During its 4th Annual Mahi Mayhem Invitational Fishing Tournament, Tom Thumb Food Stores raised $35,000 for Samuel’s House, a safe haven in a sober setting for women and families, and $35,000 for Lotus House, whose mission is to help homeless women and children by providing sanctuary, support, education and resources.
The Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association’s Scholarship Foundation has awarded $80,000 in scholarships to 21 students. Since its formation in 2007, the Foundation has paid out more than $350,000 in scholarship awards.