Hurricane Ian: Emergency response CEO shares first-hand tale

“When [a storm hits] on the mainland, there are safe zones to pre-posture in. You can get very close with your assets and refuel and house people within a few hours [travel time] of the disaster zone.”

In an Insurance Business America article, CEO Dale Buckner shares how Global Guardian phased its response to Hurricane Ian, first by pre-positioning assets and agents in the area and alerting clients, then by conducting high-water rescue missions. Post-storm, the firm pivoted to supporting clients with damage assessments, onsite security to deter looting, and health and welfare checks.

Assistance in Ukraine – case studies from security providers

In the International Travel and Health Insurance Journal’s latest Assistance & Repatriation Edition, CEO Dale Buckner recounts one high-risk extraction involving over 100 employees of a corporate client and their family members from Kyiv weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While this mission was one of many executed by Global Guardian’s local teams in coordination with its Security Operations Center, the following case study exemplifies the level of detailed risk calculation, on-the-ground intelligence, and coordination needed to provide a real outcome in an uncertain situation.

Cybersecurity for business travellers

“It matters what you do, where you are, and how you are postured from a security standpoint.”

In a recently published ITIJ article, Global Guardian SVP of Business Operations and Risk Management and former U.S. Secret Service executive Greg McAleer discusses the reasons why every business is at risk for a cyberattack. With malign actors that can strike anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world, organizations need to minimize risk down to their end user—and most importantly, think like the adversary when shoring up cyber defenses.

CEO DALE BUCKNER Interviewed From on the ground in Naples, FLorida

CEO Dale Buckner talks to ABC 7News DC about Global Guardian’s efforts in supporting clients impacted by Hurricane Ian: "Desperate people are going to do desperate things and people will take advantage of broken out windows and doors and things being unsecure. It's naturally going to happen. This is a rebuild, not a reconstruction.” 

CEO DALE BUCKNER Interviewed From on the ground in Naples, FLOrida

CEO Dale Buckner talks to CNN about Global Guardian’s efforts in supporting clients impacted by Hurricane Ian: “For us, it’s all about speed and response. On Monday we put assets and people in Jacksonville Florida, Miami, Bradenton, Fort Meyers and Naples not knowing where the final storm would hit. Ultimately, once we knew the final path, we adjusted where those assets were. The storm then hit Fort Meyers at about 3:00pm local. By about 7:30pm that evening, we were executing our first high-water emergency response missions to get people out of their homes.”

Saudi Arabia Travel Advice: What To Know Before You Go

"Travelers should assume that communication is monitored at all times. Hotel rooms may also be subject to surveillance and can be accessed without the consent of the guest. Electronic devices may be screened by customs officials on arrival and departure." 

In a recent Forbes article discussing the risks of travel to the KSA, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the issue of cyber security in a country known for its surveillance of telephone and email communications.

WJCT-FM's "First Coast Connect" Featured Segment at 28:39

“That’s how we’ll transition and phase through, from emergency response to a lot of assessment work, and then we’ll transition to security mode until the power comes back on.”

In a recent interview on Jacksonville’s NPR station, WJCT-FM, CEO Dale Buckner provides insight into the damage and security threats as a result of Hurricane Ian from on the ground in Florida, where Global Guardian has been focused on emergency response and supporting its clients, businesses, and families.

Click below to listen to the show. If interested in skipping ahead, Global Guardian segment begins at 28:39.

SITUATIONAL UPDATE

• Hurricane Ian hit the west coast of Florida on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, bringing sustained 150mph winds, massive storm surge, and torrential rains.
• Hardest hit areas include Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and Englewood.
• As a result, more than 2.5 million customers remain without power across the state. Similarly, there are significant disruptions to running water service.
• Flight cancellations continue across the state.
• There is at least one confirmed fatality.

CURRENT STATUS & FORECAST

• Heavy rains brought by Ian are causing flash flooding across much of central and eastern Florida, and flash flood and storm surge warnings are in effect for eastern and northeastern parts of the state. Rainfall totals could exceed 12 inches.
• Ian is expected to bring tropical storm force winds, heavy rains, flash flooding, and storm surge to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina in coming days.

SECURITY

• Reports of looting at gas stations and pharmacies highlight the safety and security risks in the aftermath of major natural disasters. Such activity is likely to continue as long as power is out and first responders are busy operating rescue missions. 
• Curfews are in place in multiple cities and counties in the hardest-hit areas, including Fort Myers and Naples, Lee County, and Charlotte County. 

SPECIAL REPORT

In the morning hours of 27 September, Hurricane Ian strengthened into a Category 3 storm before making landfall near the Cuban town of La Coloma in Pinar Del Rio province, located approximately 150 km (100 mi) southwest of Havana. According to current estimates, Ian is expected to reach the central Florida west coast late Wednesday night or Thursday morning as a Category 3 storm or higher. The Tampa Bay area can expect a storm surge of 6-10 feet and Jacksonville and other areas along the St. Johns River may also be at risk for a severe storm surge.

The hurricane is expected to produce the following amounts of rainfall:

• 100-150 mm in the U.S. Florida Keys and South Florida
• 300-405 mm in central-western Florida (with isolated totals of 610 mm)
• 75-200 mm in northeastern Florida
• 130-250 mm in the rest of the central Florida Peninsula

Prolonged rainfall will lead to flooding in some areas, and an ongoing risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes will be a concern from Florida to Georgia and the Carolinas through the weekend.

The two factors to watch going forward will be the southward dip in the jet stream across the United States, which could pull the storm northward and into the coast, and to what extent the storm slows upon landfall when reaching Florida. The slower the storm is traveling, the higher the risk of intense rainfall and storm surge.

• On 27 September, Tampa International Airport (KTPA/TRP) will suspend operations starting at 17:00 (local time). St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (KPIE/PIE) will completely shut down as of 13:00 (local time).
• Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for communities near Tampa Bay, including Charlotte, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• To view Global Guardian’s 2022 Hurricane Preparedness Guide, click here.
• For those currently in Florida, we also advise consulting the Florida Division of Emergency Management here.

Wall Street Banks Prep for Grim China Scenarios Over Taiwan

“Russia has proven to be a template of what you don’t want to happen.” 

In a recent Bloomberg article, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discussed how global financial firms are urgently preparing contingency plans to minimize losses in the event of a conflict between China and Taiwan—and how Global Guardian is assisting clients in this industry to reduce their exposure.