Natural Disaster Recovery: What Will Your Broker Do?
When natural disasters disrupt supply chains, customs compliance obligations do not stop. This article outlines how J.M. Rodgers’ disaster-recovery infrastructure, redundant systems, and ISO 9001-driven continuous improvement framework ensure uninterrupted customs brokerage and duty-drawback operations when clients need it most.
When a natural disaster strikes, supply chains do not pause. Entries must still be filed, cargo must still clear, and compliance deadlines do not disappear. The question every importer and exporter should ask is simple: What will your customs broker do when operations are disrupted?
In many cases, contingency planning across the brokerage industry is limited. At J.M. Rodgers, disaster-recovery planning has been a formal, documented component of our operating model for years. When Superstorm Sandy struck the East Coast in 2012, and many firms were offline for weeks, J.M. Rodgers resumed full operations within 24 hours. That continuity was not accidental. It was the result of deliberate infrastructure investment, disciplined planning, and leadership-level accountability.
As part of our ISO 9001:2015-certified Quality Management System and Continuous Process Improvement framework, we formally upgraded our Natural Disaster Recovery strategy from rapid recovery to near-immediate operational continuity. Our Process Improvement Committee led the initiative to transform our Sparta, New Jersey, campus into a hardened operational hub that can function independently of external disruptions.
We installed two state-of-the-art, natural-gas-powered generators capable of sustaining full-facility operations 24 hours a day without interruption. This required removing on-site propane tanks, coordinating with municipal authorities, and installing dedicated natural gas lines. These investments were made with one objective: ensure uninterrupted, client-facing service during emergencies.
Our Sparta location was selected strategically. It is within 50 miles of U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations in Newark, ensuring continued proximity to a major port-of-entry environment. At the same time, it is more than 50 miles inland, outside primary coastal storm-surge and flood-zone exposure. The mountainous terrain of northwestern New Jersey provides natural geographic protection from coastal superstorms and large-scale weather events.
Operational capacity was also expanded. Finished basement space in both buildings increased available square footage by 66 percent. A workplace-reconfiguration project added another 35 percent to usable space, nearly doubling overall operational capacity. Workstations have been pre-installed and fully configured, enabling rapid staff deployment. The facility is structured to be fully functional within approximately one hour of a weather-related or infrastructure-related disruption.
Technology redundancy is equally critical. J.M. Rodgers maintains dedicated server environments supported by separate infrastructure layers to protect data integrity. Systems are continuously backed up, and operational transfer to alternate terminals can occur immediately if required. This redundancy ensures there is no interruption to entry filing, compliance review, or duty-drawback processing, even if one system experiences a temporary outage.
Our prior investment in generator-based backup infrastructure at our Elmont office proved its value during Sandy and subsequent weather-related events. Those systems remain integrated into our broader disaster-recovery framework. Each enhancement to our facilities and IT environment reflects a consistent philosophy: preparedness is part of compliance.
For importers and exporters, operational continuity is not simply a convenience. It is a risk-management requirement. Missed filings, delayed entries, and compliance lapses during a crisis can create long-term financial and regulatory exposure. A broker’s disaster-recovery capability should be evaluated with the same scrutiny as classification expertise or regulatory knowledge.
J.M. Rodgers continues to invest in infrastructure, technology, and process-driven discipline to ensure we remain operational when it matters most. If you would like to discuss how our operational resilience supports your customs brokerage or duty-drawback program, please contact Andrew Galloway, Senior Vice President, at (973) 230-5604 or agalloway@jmrodgers.com.