Hurricane Planning and Recovery

Hurricane Resources

Union Pacific has established the following best practices to follow during the hurricane season.

Be Prepared

Pre-Storm

Five days before storm makes landfall or as early as possible:

  • Divert inbound flow of cars via Diversion application. Request a Diversion now (user ID and password required).
  • Re-bill inbound Rail Security Sensitive Material cars (Toxic Inhalation Hazard, Poison Inhalation Hazard) away from storm reach via Diversion application. Request a Diversion now (user ID and password required).
  • Notify Hurricane team of special requirements, including unit train and special switch requirements by opening a case in Case Management (user ID and password required) Please choose Request Special Switch or Request Special Train as the Case Reason. 
  • Notify Hurricane team of timetable for ceasing plant operations by opening a case in Case Management (user ID and password required). Select Create a Case in the Get Help box and select Facility Status Updates as the case reason.

Post-Storm

After the storm as soon as possible.

Open a case in Case Management (user ID and password required). Select Create a Case in the Get Help box (without an equipment, train or car order) and select Track Status Update as the case reason. Please include the information outlined below in the Description Field.

  • Damage or tracks out of service
  • Estimated facility repair time
  • Resumption of operations
  • Request service when repairs complete

Review our current embargoes to see if your area is impacted. 

Rail Car Inspection Required - Within a Customer Facility

AAR Interchange Rules - Rail Car Repairs

In accordance with AAR Interchange Rules, customers who are subscribers to the rules are responsible for any damage, including flood damage, occurring to cars in their control or possession. This includes cars that Union Pacific has delivered to a customer’s private track or facility.
❯*Per Rule A 2. – all interchange freight car owners must subscribe to the AAR Interchange Rules.
❯* Per AAR Rule 99 – Customers who are not subscribers to the AAR Interchange Rules are responsible for the actual cost of repairs to cars damaged, including by flood, while in their control or possession (including cars delivered to a customer’s private track or facility).

* Field Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules

In accordance with AAR Interchange Rules, rail cars damaged from flooding must go through a joint inspection with a Union Pacific Mechanical Representative at the customer industry, car owner is optional.

If you suspect or see that minimum water level has reached the “RED” line, take the following actions:

  • Report impacted rail cars by opening a case in Case Management (user ID and password required) and choose Shipment Delay as the case reason. 
  • In the description field provide all rail cars and location of cars. Include all Private, System and Foreign owned equipment.
  • Do not move or release rail cars until released by Union Pacific Mechanical Department.  

Schedule a Rail Car Inspection

To schedule an inspection, customer industry must schedule the inspection with a Union Pacific Mechanical Representative assigned to the car location area. 

Eastern Missouri & St. Louis Area
Greg Evans
224-500-1644
send email

Arkansas
Jeff Vance
402-657-1048
send email

Central Texas
Richard Wood
832-652-7628
send email

South Texas
Frank Trevizo
713-325-4452
send email

Updated April 2024