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California is underwater, with flooding up and down the coast, as well as inland in the state’s Central Valley region (“the nation’s breadbasket”), already hard-hit by drought. People have died. Homes—as well as parts of cities and entire towns—are flooded. Evacuation orders are in play.
Cliffsides and homes are collapsing into the Pacific Ocean. Mudslides are choking off canyons as roads wash out. Fallen trees are crushing houses. Vehicles are submerged. Retail businesses will take weeks and months to reopen—if they even do.
Beyond the human tragedies, the property damage is virtually incalculable. It’s a stupendous, horrible mess for residents—and for those responsible for caring for them, both immediately and into the future. And don’t forget those more than 100-mph storm wind gusts knocking out utilities for hundreds of thousands across the state.
It’s going to be one hell of a cleanup job, lasting months into years. But someone has to do it, and many of those “someones” will be franchise brands—especially those without brick-and-mortar stores. Despite the tragedy, this is a bonanza for service brands engaged in cleaning and restoration, water and flood damage remediation, and home repair and maintenance companies, from carpet cleaners to painters, electricians to plumbers, and building contractors to real estate agents.
For these kinds of service brands operating in the state, it’s a bonanza—maybe even enough for many of them to get over the increasingly common sentiment, “I’ll never do business in California!” At least for now. For both the bottom line and the human heart to be of service, opportunity calls!
In case you haven’t been paying attention, can’t get enough, or have lived in California for any length of time (I have) here are some news items to help you fully appreciate the scale of the ongoing devastation.
And more storms are on the way this the weekend.