Disasters aren’t exactly as predictable as some other business opportunities. Keeping the lights on between storms can be a challenge, depending on the frequency of recovery contracts signed in a given year. 

Ashley Painter, founder and owner of United Contract Solutions relies on a source of revenue that not only uses the resources she owns for her disaster recovery business, but keeps her sharp in recovery deployment protocol. With over two decades in the Army Reserves, Painter used her experience to find opportunity in military training.

“There are scenarios set up to train National Guard soldiers on decontamination, search and rescue and other necessary protocols after an event such as a dirty bomb in a stadium, building or area with a large crowd,” Painter says. “Each state has a unit that is specific for responding to those types of disasters.”

The state units trained for those situations are actually a result of the events on September 11, 2001. “The need was recognized after they had called all the fire responders for that and realized they still didn’t have enough,” she says. “Those units also respond to natural disasters.”

When those groups assemble training at a designated site, they need resources. Painter and United Contract Solutions support those training events exactly as if they were the real deal.

“They’ll have 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers and they need showers, catering, tents, cots, etc. These training sessions will last two to three weeks long,” Painter says. “If they need tents, generators, larger items of supply, we provide those too.” 

While finding a way to use her available assets to assist the military, something she wants to do anyway, she also brings in income that at certain times of the year that would otherwise be unfruitful.

“That’s how we keep the bills paid off-season when we don’t have a hurricane,” Painter says. “I am always looking for contract opportunities that are training-specific, not just responding to an actual disaster.”