Serving Patients Through Winter Storm Fern

Winter Storm Fern brought dangerous ice, heavy snow and subzero temperatures across a vast stretch of the U.S., disrupting transportation networks and affecting more than 200 million people from Texas to New York. Even amid widespread carrier delays and temporary distribution center closures, our teams never lost sight of why our work matters: every shipment represents a patient depending on us.

Preparedness in Action

Our teams activated contingency plans as carrier networks slowed nationwide.

“Early-risk monitoring, proactive planning and strong execution allowed us to anticipate disruptions, maintain safe operations and keep critical products moving for patients and providers,” said Chris Van Norman, SVP, Supply Chain Operations. “Getting ahead of the storm is what matters most. And the work doesn’t end when the weather clears. After an event as large as Fern, recovery is not easy and it is just as important. As soon as snow and ice began melting our incredible teams leapt into action, restoring stability across the network.”

Coordinated Recovery at Scale

Recovery is a core component of a resilient supply chain. With our robust planning, advanced systems and extensive supply chain experience, most of our distribution centers were able to return to normal, or near-normal operations, in a short period of time, demonstrating the effectiveness of our coordinated response.

Looking Ahead

Winter Storm Fern underscored the importance of emergency preparedness and coordinated execution across complex supply networks. As a core strength of our company, our distribution capabilities play a critical role in helping ensure that pharmaceuticals and medical supplies continuously get to patients when and where they need them.

Through sustained investment in early-risk monitoring, cross-network coordination and recovery excellence, we help ensure our customers, providers and their patients can rely on us in challenging times.