Olson & Olson Implements AlertMedia in Hours to Ensure Safety During a Hurricane
Peace of MindEnsures rapid, reliable delivery of critical, time-sensitive information via multiple channels
SafetyProvides valuable information to employees to ensure their safety during severe weather
ContinuityKeeps employees informed and protects vital business operations during critical events
EfficiencySaves time in an emergency with pre-built notification templates and two-way features to confirm safety or support needs
- IndustryBusiness Services
- Locations1
- Employees50
- ProductsEmergency Communication Software
- Primary UsesEmergency, Business Continuity, Inclement Weather
Olson & Olson Revolutionizes Employee Safety During Severe Weather
Olson & Olson is a law firm that offers legal services to local governments. With deep expertise in the area of municipal law, Olson & Olson currently represents over 30 cities and other local and regional governmental entities in Southeast Texas. Olson & Olson’s team of lawyers is passionate about assisting Texas in defending, developing, and enforcing local government regulatory authority to protect land and law.
When its previous emergency communication solution proved to be unreliable on the morning of an approaching hurricane, Olson & Olson turned to AlertMedia. AlertMedia’s same-day implementation and two-way communication capabilities allowed Olson & Olson to begin communicating with its people within just four hours. By sending secure and efficient communications using AlertMedia, Olson & Olson can keep its people safe, informed, and connected, while also maintaining business continuity.
Outdated System Was Unreliable in the Face of an Oncoming Hurricane
Olson & Olson is based in Houston, where flooding frequently threatens land, infrastructure, and people. On an average of four to five days out of the year, Harris County, Texas is inundated with heavy rainfall that can take lives, flood homes, and freeways, and cause extensive damage. To prepare for a hurricane forecast to hit Houston during Memorial Day weekend in 2015—and the resulting flooding—Olson & Olson needed an emergency communication solution to keep its employees informed.
On the morning of the approaching storm, Olson & Olson discovered its current mass communication system wasn’t working as expected. The firm desperately needed a reliable emergency communication provider that could implement its software within a matter of hours. With the hurricane advancing rapidly, the product needed to be user friendly and require minimal training so Olson & Olson could immediately begin communicating with employees.
Same-Day Implementation and Two-Way Communication Capabilities Provide Peace of Mind
In AlertMedia, Olson & Olson found an emergency communication partner they could trust. AlertMedia’s intuitive platform and highly responsive customer success team exceeded Olson & Olson’s expectations. With the storm approaching, AlertMedia took an all-hands-on-deck approach to get the firm up and running with the reliable technology it needed to communicate with employees.
“"With AlertMedia, we’re able to send timely communications to our employees, keeping them in the loop at all times during unplanned events."”
Within just four hours, the AlertMedia solution was fully implemented and operational. Responding quickly to the law firm’s crisis, their dedicated customer success manager (CSM) launched the firm’s account and onboarded its administrative team immediately. With an intuitive interface requiring very little training, Olson & Olson’s administrators were trained in just 15 minutes and felt confident in sending messages at a moment’s notice.
Their CSM helped Olson & Olson add multiple contact methods for every employee. Having each employee’s work, home, and cell phone number in AlertMedia allowed Olson & Olson to safeguard message deliverability. With AlertMedia’s two-way communication features—such as read receipts, surveys, and “need help” requests—the firm could provide ongoing updates and support during every phase of the storm.
AlertMedia’s multi-channel communication capabilities allowed Olson & Olson to reach employees over their preferred communication channel—text message, voice call, mobile app notification, or email—to ensure timely, reliable delivery of time-sensitive notifications. To save time and avoid hurried responses in the midst of the hurricane, AlertMedia also uploaded custom, pre-built notification templates into the product.
Employee Safety and Business Continuity in the Face of Disaster
AlertMedia’s quick and thorough implementation empowered Olson & Olson to immediately warn its employees of the approaching hurricane and send updates relating to office closures and flooding. With AlertMedia, Olson & Olson can keep employees safe, provide peace of mind, and maintain business continuity when hurricanes strike. And with the platform in place, Olson & Olson is now equipped to protect its people and organization during any unexpected event that may arise.
Adds Brittni Markwardt, Olson & Olson’s Office Manager, “With AlertMedia, we’re able to send timely communications to our employees, keeping them in the loop at all times during unplanned events. When flooding started to overwhelm Houston, and I was pressed for time to get an emergency communication system in place, AlertMedia saved the day with excellent customer support, getting us set up with our account in just a few hours.”
