For months, the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season has been eerily quiet.

Now, Mother Nature appears to be making up for lost time, and promo products companies in the projected path of the latest storm are bracing themselves.

About a week after Hurricane Fiona rampaged through the Caribbean and Atlantic Canada, causing business and personal impacts for promo professionals, Hurricane Ian is now bearing down on Florida.

Meteorologists are projecting that the Sunshine State’s western Gulf Coast is expected to endure the worst of what’s shaping up to be a strike from a possible Category 3 or 4 hurricane. Forecasters warned that, in addition to the powerful winds, Central West Florida could see 12 to 16 inches of rain, with some areas potentially getting 2 feet. As of this writing, predictions have the worst of the weather lashing on Wednesday.

NEXT Weather meteorologist @LissetteCBS4 has the latest on Hurricane Ian and its impacts on South Florida. More: https://t.co/XVr8BqJceK pic.twitter.com/aMXXY0yYmg

— CBS4 Miami (@CBSMiami) September 27, 2022

‘Riding It Out in Our Shop’

A direct hit is possible on the Tampa/Clearwater area. That has Kelly Moore nervous.

“I grew up here and don’t get too freaked out, but given the way this could play out, it is pretty scary,” notes Moore, the solo-operating owner of independent St. Petersburg, FL-based distributorship Moore Promotions (asi/601617). “I always make sure I have water, power banks charged, and take down all the outside potential projectiles. I’m not in an evacuation area, so I will be riding it out with family, friends and about 10 dogs.”

Moore is putting business on the backburner for at least a few days, not taking any orders. She’s concerned that power could be out for an extended period after the wind and rain subsides. “If that happens, I don’t know how I will work,” she says.

"I grew up here and don’t get too freaked out, but given the way this could play out, it is pretty scary.” Kelly Moore, Moore Promotions

Her worries don’t stop there. She sources much of her products from suppliers local to her, and she’s anxious that storm impacts to their operations will cause fulfillment delays in orders she has placed. “I anticipate disruptions getting all my orders out that I currently have in,” says Moore, who’s also remaining hopeful for a last-minute shift in the storm’s path. “We’re all praying it’s not a direct hit.”

Some promo pros are having an especially stressful run because of the storm. Consider the plight of Tim Holliday, owner of Sarasota, FL-based Children’s World Uniform Supply (asi/161711).

“We’re having a crazy time,” Holliday says. “We’re living in a rental unit at the beach while the condo we purchased is renovated. It’s supposed to be done Friday, and we have to be out of our rental by Tuesday. Beyond that, we’re under mandatory evacuation, so leaving the rental as well. As for the business, we’re open Tuesday and will be putting up storm shutters shortly. Then, my family and I are likely riding the storm out in our shop.”

Top 40 Suppliers & Others Announce Temporary Closures

Suppliers that include Top 40 leaders Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125) and Koozie Group (asi/40480) have announced operational impacts because of Ian.

Largo, Fl-based Hit is temporarily suspending work activity on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29. The firm’s 24-hour service is suspended immediately and is remaining so until further notice.

“An additional two-to-three business days’ production time will be added to our standard service,” says CEO C.J. Schmidt, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “We will continue to monitor this situation and keep you updated should this change. Let’s all pray that the families and communities stay safe.”

With mandatory evacuation orders issued by local county administrators, Koozie Group is closing its Clearwater facilities on Tuesday afternoon with the hopes of reopening Friday, Sept. 30. Should circumstances allow, the firm plans to work through the weekend to make up the time and orders.

“Let’s all pray that the families and communities stay safe.” C.J. Schmidt, Hit Promotional Products

“Our support teams, including our customer service teams, will continue to operate remotely during this time should you have any other questions,” says CEO David Klatt, a Power 50 member. “Our Minnesota facilities remain open and operating business as usual.”

As a result of the Clearwater closure, Koozie Group has adjusted lead times by three days and suspended 24-hour service on products produced there like pens and drinkware. “Please note that any orders in house will be delayed as needed to accommodate the facility closures,” says Klatt. “We anticipate being able to provide the most accurate ship dates when our factories reopen and plan to send any updated ship date notifications by Monday, Oct. 3.”

Contract decorators are temporarily shuttering too. Tampa-based iDex International (asi/62138) is planning to be closed Wednesday and Thursday. The firm’s clients include a who’s-who of Top 40 distributorships, such as HALO (asi/356000) and American Solutions for Business (asi/120075).

WATCH: Hurricane Ian can be seen about 260 miles below the International Space Station on Monday, as it gained strength south of Cuba and moved toward Florida. pic.twitter.com/TRbgVsbz66

— BNN Cuba (@BNNCuba) September 27, 2022

Meanwhile, Brand House Promotions (asi/145378) is bustling now. The Tampa, FL-based promo products distributor/decorator’s dedicated team is hustling hard to get as many orders out the door as possible before ultimately closing down so staffers have time to personally prep for Ian. It’s likely the business will remain closed Wednesday and Thursday.

“We’re shipping out a ton of orders and then we’re closing down for the safety of our staff,” says Genevieve Orebaugh, managing partner at Brand House Promotions.

Orebaugh says business preparations include moving equipment into safer places. “Structurally, we’re in a good spot, and we should be fine,” adds Orebaugh. “We’ve been here through multiple storms. We’re taking what we’ve learned from the past to ensure our equipment, product and people are safe.”

It’s a similar story at Clearwater-based Roberts Quality Printing (asi/309338). The business is humming with activity as the team scrambles to get the business buttoned up before Ian’s anticipated arrival. “We’re closing down today,” a company representative explains. “We have to see how things go to determine how long we’ll be out.”