Data Centers Prepare for Natural Disasters Year-Round

Data center operators maintain constant vigilance against natural disasters, with preparation beginning years before facilities open their doors. Jenny Gerson, Senior Director of Sustainability at DataBank, explains that disaster readiness starts during the site selection process, with DataBank positioning all facilities outside FEMA’s 500-year floodplain.

“This whole process is so smooth that a customer would not even notice that there was a change of power. There’s no downtime whatsoever.”
— Jenny Gerson, Senior Director of Sustainability at DataBank

Beyond strategic siting, DataBank implements comprehensive emergency response plans that are regularly updated to address emerging threats. The company conducts preventative maintenance throughout the year, including biannual roof inspections and equipment testing to ensure operational readiness.

During Hurricane Helene, DataBank’s Atlanta facility demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach by seamlessly transitioning from grid power to backup systems without any customer downtime, utilizing redundant utility feeds, battery walls, and generator power.

Discover how DataBank’s proactive approach to disaster preparedness ensures uninterrupted operations when it matters most.