The critical role of coaches during a crisis

Tuesday 10 June 2025

As the Gulf Coast approaches another hurricane season (June 1 – November 30), Hotard Coaches, a subsidy of All Aboard America Holdings Inc, owned by Kelsian Group, outlines the essential transport elements in disaster planning and recovery.

Celebrating 90 years of experience this year, Hotard has extensive knowledge and experience in transportation for evacuation efforts, emergency response, and infrastructure recovery, ensuring communities receive the support they need before and after a severe weather event.

A year-round effort

Hotard Coaches General Manager Julie Chalmers said hurricane planning was a year-round effort.

“All of our team training includes disaster relief work because when the disaster is here – it’s too late for training or planning – it’s go time,” she said.

While no two disasters are ever the same, Chalmers said general disaster response planning occurs across two key phases for hurricane season:

1. Pre-landfall evacuations – Transporting nursing home residents, university students, and other at-risk populations to safety.

2. Post-landfall recovery – Deploying buses to move critical infrastructure teams, including energy and utility providers.

Chalmers said local knowledge is the most important key because it ensures safety in rapidly changing conditions.

“Knowing what we can and cannot do safely is critical. We work with our customers to understand their needs and deliver the safest option in the conditions that are presenting at that time,” she said.

Prepared, united and safe

When disaster is imminent, clients typically cancel their previously scheduled charters and Hotard can pivot to emergency response protocols, leveraging support from sister companies, including First Class Transportation in Houston, to help handle the load.

“The entire team unites to work in shifts to reschedule trips for current clients, but also to start deploying additional drivers and vehicles into services where they are needed most,” said Chalmers.

She added that driver training is ongoing and once a driver goes through an actual disaster relief effort, and sees how important their work is, they are usually ready to do it again.

“The conditions can be really challenging, but with a mission to reconnect communities, our drivers have confidence that our vehicles are well equipped with amenities and provisions - they can even sleep onboard if they need to!” she said.

Protecting the community

Since Hurricane Katrina, USA legislation has mandated protections for vulnerable citizens.

“As a result, nursing homes, for example, are required to maintain an evacuation transportation service plan, ensuring sufficient buses are available when needed most.

“For utility companies who deploy crews to a region in the clean-up phase, having essential coach transport means their people can get to accommodation and meal providers, while their large trucks are often parked offsite in dedicated carparks,” she said.

Having a fleet of buses available is one aspect, but having drivers available is the key, according to Chalmers.

“Knowing what adversities our team members are facing on a personal level helps us support them so they can work if they are able.

“After one hurricane that hit the New Orleans area, gasoline was at a shortage. Many people had to wait in line for hours to fill up their cars and we didn’t want our employees to have the added stress of filling up their cars before or after work or lack of fuel to prevent them from coming to work at all.

“We worked with our local supplier, who was able to provide us with gas at our depot, so that our employees were able to fill up their cars,” she said.

Recognising that coming to work must be feasible for the team, Chalmers said they maintain a stock of essential disaster provisions including bottled water, fuel, gas, toilet paper, ice, and power with generators.

“We have found this appealing to our team, because they can come to work and make sure their families have immediate access to critical supplies - they want to come to work where we have water, gas, power and ice available,” she said.

Industry leadership in disaster response

Chalmers said Hotard’s expertise has earned them a seat at the table in disaster planning with local authorities, law enforcement, and utility providers.

“We have lived the experience of multiple disasters but we also do drills at least twice a year, closely monitoring weather conditions to stay prepared for immediate activation.

“We watch the weather proactively and monitor for potentially disaster conditions. We do activate earlier and will often call it a “fire drill” and get ready - sometimes nothing eventuates but that is a much better scenario than waiting until the last minute and not having a positive outcome.

“We always learn from the preparation work as well, so no drill work is ever wasted,” she said.

Chalmers added that once one of the AAAHI companies goes through a relief effort, all the companies can learn from the experience.

“We now have access to a global network of disaster relief transport talent, all the way from New Orleans to Australia!” she said.

A unified effort

Beyond hurricanes, Hotard’s disaster response extends to train derailments and other emergencies.

During crises, communication is key, with teams staying connected via virtual meetings and group messaging. Drivers from sister companies are brought in to assist, receiving both logistical support and competitive compensation for their vital relief work.

Additionally, Chalmers said technology added to their emergency capabilities.

“Our innovative electronic fleet logging software system ensures dispatch operates centrally and seamlessly, deploying the nearest available assets as needed from the group – this is relevant to minor train incidents to mass scale evacuations as we have oversight of exactly what vehicle and driver is closest to the required job,” she said.

Global strength, local impact

As part of Kelsian Group, a global essential transportation company, Hotard Coaches benefits from world class resources, intelligence, and industry-leading expertise.

This connection allows Hotard to leverage international best practices, access additional fleet assets and personnel, and collaborate on real-time disaster intelligence. Whether coordinating with sister companies for additional on ground support or tapping into global emergency response strategies, this collective strength ensures that Hotard is always prepared to deliver a resilient, efficient, and well-coordinated disaster response with local knowledge, when communities need it most.

Kelsian Group CEO Graeme Legh said Hotard exemplifies excellence in disaster management through strategic risk mitigation, crisis response planning, and steadfast commitment to service continuity.

“We’re incredibly proud of Hotard’s flexibility and unwavering commitment as a company that proactively safeguards communities and operations, ensuring resilience and recovery in the face of challenges,” he said.

As the 2025 hurricane season approaches, Hotard Coaches stands ready - not just as a transportation provider, but as a trusted emergency response partner for communities, businesses, and government agencies.