It’s finally summertime! That means most will opt to celebrate the season outdoors. Soaking in the sun can mean being out by the pool, beach vacations, cookouts, and other outdoor activities. However, when having fun in the sun it should also be second nature to take steps to protect yourself from UV radiation. Whether you’ve got a vacation coming up or simply spending time outside, we’ve got you covered! Safeguard yourself and your family this summer and stay healthy with sun safety tips and recommendations from the Cotton Safety Team.

• Cover up. Shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays by wearing long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and breathable pants. All fabrics block UV rays to some degree, but for the most effective protection invest in outdoor clothing that carries an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating. The UPF rating measures how well different fabrics block UV rays. The most effective UPF rating is from 15 to more than 50.
• Plan around the sun. It’s imperative to limit direct sun exposure during peak sun times...

June marks the official start of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the outlook to be historically more active than years past. Cotton Global Disaster Solutions urges you to take steps to protect your employees and safeguard your business. It only takes one storm to change the course of your life and your company’s fate. Hurricanes are among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. Emergency planning and preparedness for natural disasters is the key to a quick response and recovery when disaster strikes.

Cotton Global Disaster Solutions is here to help you weather through the storm. Start by downloading our Hurricane Business Continuity Planning and Recovery Guide.

Before our Cotton Global Disaster Solutions teams initiate the response and recovery phases following a disaster, much activity happens behind the scenes in Cotton’s 24/7 Watch Department. Information and speed are key to efficiency in our line of work, and the Cotton Watch team is dedicated to being at the forefront when a disaster strikes. This department is a critical component of our overall disaster mitigation and recovery process and the attention to detail taken in their preparedness efforts are paramount to completing successful projects for our clients.

In disaster scenarios, the environment and conditions can change instantly. Because of this, up-to-the minute information is extremely valuable in planning and preparing your business and employees for disaster. Cotton Watch analyzes risk factors and criteria that have the potential to affect your facilities all around the globe. Through severe weather tracking, social media monitoring, geo plotting our clients’ complete property portfolio and utilizing proprietary techniques,...

2017 saw unprecedented hurricane activity in the Western Hemisphere, wreaking havoc in the Southern Pacific, Caribbean, Gulf, and Atlantic. As Edmund Burke stated “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” In order to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, Cotton Global Disaster Solutions recommends taking a look back at our 2017 Hurricane Season In Review. The infographic not only gives an extensive breakdown of last year's storm activity, and devastation, but also highlights Cotton's turnkey solutions and our multi-divisional response to the seasons quadruple punch.

Of course, the best planning doesn’t always safeguard us from the full wrath of Mother Nature, but proper measures can be taken to mitigate costs for your business. The devastation from these storms was catastrophic, causing billions of dollars in capital losses, operational expenses, infrastructure, and sadly, human life. In August, Hurricane Harvey affected more than 6 million people across Texas...

Learn more about four Spring weather hazards to be prepared for

Spring arrives with generally warmer temperatures and lush greenery, however, the season can also bring severe weather. As temperatures can swing back and forth, with sunny days being followed by stormy nights, Cotton wants you to be aware of the dangers that may occur in this coming season. Take these steps to stay safe if severe conditions are predicted for your area that may affect your business.

THUNDERSTORMS Thunderstorms can cause the most severe weather bringing tornadoes, flooding, hail, and especially lightning. According to American Red Cross, lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Take thunderstorm watches and warnings seriously, as people may be harmed by either ignoring them or missing the signals.

• Identify trees that have weak branches that may be struck by lightning and cause damage to people, vehicles, or...

Give your business the ultimate gift and join Cotton's Preferred Client Program

February is a month where we show our love and affection to those who are special in our lives. Valentine's day is upon us and many have spent the last couple weeks thinking of creative ways to show how much they care. At Cottonwe think the same care, affection, and attention to detail that you put into planning your Valentine’s day should also be shown towards your business!

As with any great surprise, gift, or celebration, preparation is key. Prepare your business the same way by being prepared for possible disasters resulting in loss of work, capital, or your entire business altogether. Give your business the ultimate gift and become one of Cotton's “sweethearts” by pre-aligning your business continuity plan with Cotton's specialized recovery...

We are pleased to announce that Richard (Rick) Leiby has recently joined the Cotton Commercial USA team as the Director of Construction Sales. This is an integral component of Cotton’s Global Disaster Recovery Division. He brings extensive client network knowledge that spans over 30 years providing synergies across most of the Cotton Holdings markets. Rick has held various positions of increased responsibilities since 1981 within the Schindler Elevator Corporation. Early roles included Application Engineering, Service and New Installation/Construction Sales, Project Management, District and Regional Sales Management in a 10-state territory, with eventual P&L responsibilities as General Manager in the Southeast Texas region. Previous corporate moves include offices in Philadelphia, Washington/Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and for the last 21 years, working in Houston.

Rick’s primary role at Cotton will be to secure new construction opportunities, focusing on the greater Houston region. He is eager and excited to provide his sales, business development and support...

Put a business continuity plan in place in 2018

After deadly hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms, 2017 was a year of unparalleled natural disasters while also being the most costly year on record for weather-related disasters in the United States. As 2017 has come to a close, and businesses analyze and reflect on the the past year, a good opportunity exists to implement new processes based on lessons learned. Cotton invites all of our clients and prospective clients to not only continue to prepare for unforeseen events, but also enlist Cotton’s turn-key solutions in order to achieve cost-savings following a potential disaster event.

The total economic impact of hurricanes in 2017 is estimated to be $370 billion in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean. Not all these losses could have been prevented, but their magnitude could be much smaller. As an example, the economic loss is not only how much a commercial building was damaged, or how much it will cost to repair the structure, but...

Despite facing major obstacles while being in a remote location, Cotton responds to the island of St. John.

While Cotton was responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in our hometown of Houston, and other areas of Texas, two category 5 hurricanes hit the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John, in the Caribbean. Cotton quickly mobilized assets and personnel to respond to our clients in the affected area. Cotton is very proud to be involved in this project, and other ongoing efforts in Puerto Rico. The scale of the project combined with its geographic location has presented logistical challenges; however, Cotton has not compromised on our quality of work, and has learned considerably from this project.

SCOPE

Our client in the hospitality industry, tasked us to mitigate damage and restore 28 buildings, 33 pools, and the grounds of the 47 acre property and beachfront,...

A South Texas University expresses gratitude after Cotton gets them back to class after incurring damages from Harvey

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Cotton was heavily relied upon to help our clients in the Gulf Coast region recover. In the weeks since the cleanup and repairs, some have taken the time to personally thank us for a job well done through personal letters and emails. We know that it is our job to respond quickly and perform to the best of our ability, but hearing the support and appreciation from those who have had the Cotton service experience is always humbling.

As the season of giving thanks draws near, it is with pride that we share a quote from a University client in South Texas whose campus received an extensive amount of wind and water damage from Hurricane Harvey:

“With the storm approaching, I knew exactly who to call to put on standby. It was Cotton.”

After being put on notice pre-storm,...