Hommax faces the DANA as an experience of learning, unity and resilience
By Hommax
In this post we tell you how we have experienced the DANA in Hommax and how we are overcoming it, thanks to the work, effort and dedication of the entire team and external staff.
On 29th October, the DANA that affected the Valencian Community had a significant impact on more than 84 municipalities, including Picanya, our headquarters. Here, the overflowing of the Poyo ravine caused flooding that affected homes, streets and infrastructures. The area where our business park is located was no exception: the streets closest to the ravine suffered the most damage, while the areas further away were not so badly affected by the flooding, but were visited by mud and debris that complicated, above all, access to the warehouses.
Now, as we write this report, one month on from the DANA, we still see around us streets with dried mud, accumulated in the corners, on the walls or in the parks where the collection machines have not yet arrived. Cleaning trucks, fire engines and volunteers continue to pass by. Professional help is needed and it arrives little by little, but fortunately at Hommax we had it very quickly from the beginning. The team that makes up our company has been with us since 31 October, day after day, with the motivation to be operational as soon as possible.
A collective effort to overcome an unexpected challenge
On Thursday 31 October, two days after the flooding, part of the Hommax team was able to access the site to assess the damage. The clean-up work began that same day, including a lunch stop as typical as the one that has been circulating on social media.
In the picture on the left, one of the emblematic lunches of the first cleaning week. On the right, part of the Hommax team and Board.
In the picture on the left, one of the emblematic lunches of the first cleaning week. On the right, part of the Hommax team and Board.
The entire Hommax team pitched in to help, some colleagues came from other cities, while others brought family and friends to help with the tasks. Internal coordination, together with constant communication, allowed for efficient management in a highly demanding context.
We were clear that our first commitment to recovery was to our customers, and the second to our employees, who, showing admirable dedication, came to work every day, travelling from their homes by bike, walking, motorbike or, for the early risers, by car, taking advantage of the streets that were still passable. Therefore, we began by cleaning the warehouse, located at the back of the warehouse which, although it had suffered less damage than the front part of the offices, was an essential area to recover in order to be able to continue with the logistics activity and thus meet our customers' needs. The images below demonstrate the high energy of our team and the mud we wrestled off.
Some initial difficulties, such as the lack of water supply due to the collapse of a bridge connecting the pipes, were overcome with the help of a bucket truck from Teruel and the irrigation association, who provided water for the cleaning work and to whom we are also very grateful.
The efforts of all these people, as well as the support of our Board of Directors, were essential.
In the picture on the left, our warehouse seen from the first floor of offices. On the right, the bucket truck that brought the water.
By Monday 4 November, we had already resumed some of our activity, although transport difficulties and saturation of logistics companies still limited the pace throughout the area. Our commitment to customers remained strong, prioritising order delivery and maintaining open communication to manage expectations. We continue to work hard on this to regain as soon as possible the speed of service that has always distinguished us.
Strong communication and tenacious decisions at the most critical moments
During these days, constant communication between team members and the steering committee was key to coordinating work and making decisions in the midst of uncertainty. Difficulties in accessing the site, mud and a shortage of suitable cleaning tools were the first hurdles to overcome, coupled with our commitment to restore operations. We communicated this to customers and suppliers, who we asked for and received understanding and support at all times, for which we are very grateful.
At present, we are still suffering some limitations due to the hangover from the DANA. One of the most common problems that all the companies in Valencia are suffering is the slowdown in shipments, as logistics companies are still saturated and have difficulties circulating on certain roads close to the affected areas. We still see roads cut off and congested, such as the CV-366 that connects Picanya with Torrente, adjacent to our industrial estate.
In the picture on the left, one of the roads adjacent to our industrial estate, a few days after the DANA. On the left, our own street.
At Hommax we are working as fast as possible to deliver all goods on schedule, committed to providing detailed tracking information to customers. Again, at this point in the journey, fluid and constant communication is essential to balance everyone's expectations. Without a doubt, DANA has taught us that teamwork and communication are the first step to success.
Hommax gives thanks and shares lessons learned
We would like to reiterate our sincere thanks to our employees, customers and suppliers. Your support, trust and patience during these days have been fundamental to keep going and to keep our hopes always high. Although we have not yet fully recovered our facilities or our stock, we are operational and working normally in all departments.
Thanks to this union and our spirit of self-improvement, at Hommax we continue to move forward, stronger and more cohesive than ever. The DANA has been an opportunity to reflect and strengthen our capabilities as a team. In situations like this, collaboration and planning are key to overcoming any challenge.
At Hommax we look to the future with optimism, with the hope of renovating the ground floor of our headquarters, which was more damaged and which we will refurbish, creating a functional and welcoming space that reflects the values of collaboration and self-improvement that characterise us. This event encourages us to reaffirm our commitment to offer the best service to our customers, adapting to the circumstances and always working together.
Thank you for being part of Hommax. We continue to move forward together.
