[PCO Profile] Hurricane Charley Journal: Hurdles To Recovery

Editor’s note: The following journal entry is the third and final in a series of articles written by Jeff Ahrens, owner of Ant-Ser Termite & Pest Control, which is located in Port Charlotte, Fla., one of the cities that was most devastated by Hurricane Charley in August. (See the October and November issues of PCT to read past Hurricane Charley entries.) In the days and weeks that followed, Ahrens and staff have been responding to the challenges of providing pest control services in the wake of this natural disaster. In the following journal entry Ahrens describes the challenges of providing services in a market where pest control has suddenly become a low priority.

Days 40-47: Week Of 9/21

Because of storm damage, termite damage on homes has become easily visible so our termite work has picked up. Our challenge right now is getting our customer base to renew their contracts. Most of our customers’ main concerns right now are about getting their roofs fixed. There is a six-month wait before you can get a contractor.

Days 48-49: Wednesday 9/29 and Thursday 9/30

I decided to attend the Certified Pest Control Operators Association of Florida (CPCO) annual convention in Fort Lauderdale. It was a worthwhile trip as it was good to share my experiences with fellow PCOs and learn from some of the industry’s top professionals. Austin Frishman’s presentation was very helpful. He included a list of 26 items for why customers should keep their pest control services. I am considering distributing this list to my existing customers and/or potential customers.

Days 50-51: Saturday 10/1 and Sunday 10/2

Whew! Another weekend has passed in which we did NOT have to worry about the threat of a hurricane. Things are starting to return to normal as most everyone’s power has now been restored.

Days 52-56: Week Of 10/3

Although business is starting to pick up, we still are dealing with many customers saying, "We just don’t really want your services right now." It is frustrating because now is the time when consumers need our services the most. Most every pest can easily get into people’s attics because soffits and fascia have been blown away.

We are starting to see a lot of rodents. The post-hurricane conditions have been ideal for reproduction. Many of these rodents have died, so now vultures are coming in and swooping up the carcasses.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a statement regarding the bird population and West Nile virus. The bird population has decreased in many areas of the state because the birds fled when the hurricanes approached. You can’t spread West Nile virus without birds, so maybe this is nature’s way of dealing with West Nile virus.

This is the month when the "snowbirds" — part-time residents from northern states — return to Florida. Our population increases about 38 percent and that has a direct correlation to our business, which increases by about 38 percent. The customers I depend on are our year-round customers but we do appreciate this spurt. Our bigger concern is with renewals. We’ve had people tell us — "We want to keep your service but can’t" — or they don’t have a home.

I’ve noticed that a lot of other businesses have not opened. This is a change for our community. Our area has been sort of isolated from the country’s economic downturn. We’ve boomed the last seven years. I think a lot of is tied in with the first wave of Baby Boomers now retiring. The median age is 56 and they have disposable incomes.

Since the hurricane, I have been evaluating our company’s procedures for dealing with disasters and I am planning to buy a generator and software that is Web-based.

When Hurricane Charley first came through our original projection was two to six months of recovery. It’s been two months now and we are just about recovered. Once people can get their roofs fixed/rebuilt I believe we will see a boom.