Ocean Optics Is Well Prepared for Ivan

Inventory is Protected, Production is On Schedule and Technical Support Is Available Despite Threatening Storm

Dunedin, Fla., September 2004 – Ocean Optics is well prepared should Hurricane Ivan, the third major storm to threaten Florida in less than a month, make landfall in the state. “We’ve taken every step to make certain that we can support our customers, protect our inventory, and that we can build and deliver products even if this storm affects the state,” said Mike Morris, Ocean Optics president.

More than a week before the storm was projected to make its way into the Gulf of Mexico, Ocean Optics crews secured the company’s inventory and established alternate operations to handle customer support and telephone and e-mail communications. “Our people worked extremely hard to make sure that our inventory and our information databases are secure in various locations. Our preparedness will eliminate loss and allow us to continue to provide excellent support to our customers, even in the event of this dangerous hurricane, said Morris.”

Ocean Optics has three facilities in Florida. Ocean Optics headquarters is in Dunedin, 30 miles west of Tampa. The company's Electo-optic Systems Manufacturing Facility is located in Winter Park near Orlando, and its Optical Thin Films and Coatings operations is in Largo, Florida.

Based on Ivan’s current projected track, extreme weather – with winds of more than 130 mph – could affect the Tampa Bay area as early as Tuesday, September 14.

Hurricane Ivan is the third major storm to threaten the state of Florida in a month. Hurricane Charley made landfall in mid-August, and Hurricane Frances in early September. 

Charley, which swept across Orlando, Florida on August 13, knocked out power to the region for nearly a week, affecting production at the Ocean Optics Electro-optics Facility. Components and systems were secured in the facility and no damage was incurred.

Hurricane Frances made landfall in Florida on September 4 and interrupted power at Ocean Optics headquarters for four days. The company, however, had prepared a contingency operation center to manage customer communications.

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