On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced an order which would require many businesses to close and residents to stay home, aside from specific activities, such as grocery shopping, running errands, and exercising. There are specific businesses which Harris County and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have deemed as “essential,” which has led to some confusion; not only from some of our employees and customers, but from the community as a whole.
Regarding Varicraft Power Systems specifically, we fall under the category of being an essential business in both Harris County’s “Stay Home, Work Safe” order, as well as the CISA’s “Guidance On the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce”, in a few key areas. Since we provide materials used in the manufacturing and repair of equipment used in the energy sector, food and agriculture, wastewater treatment, and more, we are therefore deemed essential for these other critical infrastructures to remain operational.
With that said, we are not taking the current national situation regarding COVID-19 lightly, and we are doing all that we can to go above and beyond the regulations and guidance set forth by the local and federal governments, while still providing the best service that we can to our customers. All of our office staff have the ability to work remotely and have been encouraged to do so. Except for the limited necessary employees to handle shipping, receiving, and maintenance, the majority of our staff has been working from home and will continue to do so until the “Stay Home, Work Safe” order has been lifted.
As for our suppliers, the vast majority of them have taken a similar approach and have only critical employees working in their facilities.
We will update our blog here with any additional information as it comes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact any member of our staff and they should be able to answer them for you.
