A Restaurant’s Survival Guide to Natural Disasters

November 30, 2017

Every restaurant should be ready for the worst-case scenario.

The news has been hard to miss lately. Four major hurricanes hurtled toward American shores, knocking out power, flooding buildings, and ruining lives and businesses in one fell swoop.

And many experts agree these catastrophic events are only going to get worse and more frequent. An important task for all restaurants is to create a natural disaster preparedness plan. This will ensure your business sustains as little damage as possible; your people—employees and customers—are cared for; and you are back on your feet, operationally and financially, as soon as possible.

Your Building

Russo’s Restaurants, which includes Russo’s New York Pizzeria and Russo’s Coal Fired Kitchen, is headquartered in Houston, and therefore braced itself for the recent arrival of Hurricane Harvey. Both the concept’s franchised and corporate stores in Houston sustained damage from the storm.

“We loaded up our windows with storm shutters, lined the perimeter of restaurants with sand bags, lifted chairs onto table tops and tried to remove as much equipment as possible ahead of the storm’s landfall,” says founder and president Anthony Russo.

Before disaster hits, it’s important to stay up to date with maintenance on your building, to reduce the risk of fires, for example, during a natural disaster. This includes items like ensuring your hood exhaust system is regularly cleaned, says Rusty Amarante, director of operations, Belfor Property Restoration, in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Secure your building by closing doors, trimming nearby trees, and protecting windows by either boarding them up or installing hurricane shutters. Ensure all doors and windows are clear of obstructions in case the building has to be evacuated.

If there is a threat of flooding, the electricity, gas, and water should be turned off at the main breaker.

Commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances and ovens along one wall, a curved counter, and overhead lighting.

 

Your Equipment and Supplies

If your restaurant is in an area prone to flooding, try to keep electrical items, such as computers and kitchen appliances, elevated above flood level, Amarante says. “It’s also a good idea to stock up on sandbags and consider updating landscaping around the outside of the restaurant,” he explains, to divert any floodwater away from the building.

Russo invested in powerful backup generators, which really reduced loss, “especially when it comes to keeping your fridge full of food running,” he says.

Datz Restaurant Group, which is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and has three restaurants—Datz, Dough, and Roux in that city—has a gas generator for each location so they wouldn’t lose any stock. As it was, the restaurants didn’t sustain any serious damage and reopened within four days.

The Datz group also developed a smaller menu ahead of time that could be executed by a smaller staff, in case employees couldn’t make it in after the storm, or if the restaurants had limited equipment, due to damage or power outages. This, founder and co-owner Suzanne Perry says, would allow the restaurants to at least be functional, though turned out to not be needed.

In terms of equipment, Russo’s removed as much from the locations as possible, especially any that could be damaged by water exposure. And, the restaurants stored all computers in a safe, dry area and backed them up.

If you have enough time, Russo recommends moving heavier items off-site, but otherwise, lift them onto wood to stay above flooding, and cover them with heavy plastic sheeting to keep out water.

The Datz restaurants disconnected all equipment from outlets, shut off the gas, and took everything it could to the second floors.

Paperwork

Review your insurance policy to confirm the building and all equipment is included in the coverage, Amarante advises.

On top of its basic property damage and business insurance, Datz Restaurant Group carries wind coverage, flood coverage for properties in a flood zone, and income interruption insurance.

Also, create copies of all important documents, Amarante says, including contracts, insurance policies and other legal documents. Additionally, invest in disaster-proof containers that will protect these documents in case of a flood or fire.

And make sure you have a list with contact information for all your employees, as well as major utility companies, who you’ll likely need to contact after the disaster.

Chef in black uniform smiling, holding a large pepperoni pizza in a restaurant booth setting with brick walls and framed artwork.

Your Employees

The safety of people should be your top priority. “In the event that a natural disaster strikes while staff and customers are in the restaurant, a plan should be in place for where and how to take shelter. Employees and customers should move to a secure room if there is a tornado or hurricane, but if flooding is anticipated, it’s best to evacuate the restaurant,” Amarante says. He advises against going so high in a building to avoid flooding that there’s no roof access or other means of egress.

He also says to stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. And contrary to popular belief, do not stand in doorways during an earthquake but instead take cover under something sturdy—as far away from windows as possible, since the glass may shatter.

Regularly train staff on what to do in the event of an emergency. They should all know the evacuation plan and where emergency supplies are stored.

Datz Restaurant Group took a lot of trouble before the arrival of Hurricane Irma over its employees. The three restaurants were closed for four days before the storm hit to allow employees time to evacuate. “We also pulled and printed all the shelter information and information from the county on where to pick up sandbags, shelter locations and where flood zones are for the staff, and went through the information with them one by one,” Perry says. “We also ordered 50 cases of water and gave it out to staff so they had water to go home with.”

Write a Plan

Perry knew communication was going to be tricky once the hurricane had arrived, so she implemented a “phone tree” from the managers on down to let staff know when to come back into work. “This was really helpful to get back up and running,” she says.

Before any emergency strikes, write a plan of action, then clearly display it in the dining room, says Amarante. This plan should:

  • Include an evacuation plan, featuring an agreed-upon location where staff will meet at a safe place away from the restaurant to ensure everyone is accounted for.
  • Identify all available exits.
  • Designate group leaders among staff who can help direct others to safety.

Plan Against Looting

Think about having a locked location in your restaurant to keep emergency supplies as well as expensive products like top shelf liquors and smaller pieces of equipment safe, to protect against potential looters.

Have an Emergency Kit

At each of Datz’ restaurants, there’s always a couple of power tools, like a power drill and a small power saw, for opening or cutting into things and boarding windows, in addition to basic tools,” Perry says, to expedite clean up.

  • Every restaurant should have a disaster recovery kit, says Amarante. The basics these should include are:
  • Non-perishable foods like canned goods and dry foods like crackers
  • Water
  • Flashlights and batteries
  • Local maps
  • A manual can opener
  • A first aid kit
  • Cash, preferably in small bills
  • A battery-powered or hand crank radio
  • Dust masks
  • Whistles (to call for help)
  • Garbage bags (for sanitation)
  • Wipes or hand sanitizer
  • Tools to turn off utilities

It’s not all about preparing for disasters; there’s also a mountain of work to be done afterward. Hospitality industry leaders including Ti Adelaide Martin, Tom Douglas, and Lally Brennan have established October 2 as a fundraiser evening to help restaurants hit by the recent hurricanes.

Through “One Night, One Meal, One Nation” participating restaurants will donate a percentage of proceeds to benefit industry workers and organizations in the affected areas. They’ll provide relief to hurricane victims and assist the families in the hospitality industry that were affected by the disasters.

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Why Russo’s Is a Healthier Pizza Chain and Italian Restaurant Choice

May 28, 2026
Today’s guests are paying closer attention to what they eat. They still want pizza, pasta, and classic Italian food, but they also want better ingredients, fresh preparation, lighter choices, and meals that do not feel overly processed. That is why Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is becoming a stronger choice for guests searching for a healthier pizza chain, healthy pizza options, and fresh Italian food made with real ingredients. We operate in the United States and internationally, but the kitchen philosophy has stayed simple. Fresh dough, scratch made sauces, premium ingredients, family recipes, and made to order Italian food come first. Founded by Chef Anthony Russo, the brand was built on authentic New York style pizza and Italian cooking inspired by recipes passed through generations. Instead of relying on frozen shortcuts, Russo’s focuses on fresh daily prep, clean ingredient choices, and real flavor. A Healthier Pizza Chain Starts With Better Ingredients A healthier pizza does not mean removing everything people love about pizza. It starts with how the food is made. At Russo’s, the pizza starts with house made dough prepared fresh daily using premium all natural flour. The sauce is made in house. Fresh mozzarella, fresh garlic, herbs, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil are used throughout the kitchen. That matters because many guests today are reading labels and asking better questions. They want to know what is in their food, how it is prepared, and whether the restaurant uses fresh ingredients or heavily processed shortcuts. Russo’s gives guests a better way to enjoy New York style pizza without losing the taste, comfort, or quality they expect. Fresh Pizza, Pasta, and Italian Food Made Daily Russo’s menu is built around fresh preparation. The kitchen uses scratch made marinara sauce, slow simmered meat sauce, house made dressings, fresh salads, premium beef, all natural chicken, seafood, and brick oven pizza made fresh to order. The menu also includes pasta dishes, chicken entrées, seafood pasta, salads, calzones, and Italian classics prepared with traditional cooking methods. This gives guests more than one way to enjoy a meal. They can choose a fresh pizza, a salad with protein, grilled salmon, chicken, seafood, pasta, or a lighter Italian entrée based on what fits their appetite. Healthier Pizza Options Without Losing Flavor For guests looking for healthy pizza options, Russo’s focuses on freshness, quality, and customization. Guests can enjoy hand stretched New York style pizza with fresh toppings, premium mozzarella, scratch made sauce, and brick oven baking. They can also choose gluten free options, lighter toppings, fresh vegetables, salads, or protein focused menu items when available by location. The goal is not to turn pizza into diet food. The goal is to serve pizza made with better ingredients and fewer shortcuts. That is what makes Russo’s different from many large chain pizza restaurants. Better Choices for GLP 1 and Wellness Focused Guests More guests are now thinking about portion control, protein intake, fresh vegetables, and balanced meals. This has become even more common as GLP 1 lifestyle habits and wellness focused dining continue to grow. Russo’s menu naturally gives guests more flexibility. A guest may want a smaller portion, a salad, grilled chicken, seafood, fresh vegetables, or a protein balanced Italian meal. Another guest may want authentic brick oven pizza made with fresh dough and real ingredients. Both guests can find something that works for them. That is why Russo’s can be positioned as a healthier pizza and Italian restaurant choice for modern diners who still want comfort food made better. Authentic Italian Food With Family Recipes Russo’s is not only a pizza restaurant. It is an Italian restaurant built around Chef Anthony Russo’s family recipes, fresh ingredients, and scratch cooking. The menu includes New York style pizza, fresh pasta, seafood dishes, chicken entrées, salads, calzones, and Italian comfort food made with care. Many of these recipes come from Italian family traditions. That gives the food a more personal story and helps guests understand why Russo’s focuses on fresh preparation instead of mass produced shortcuts. A Healthier Pizza and Italian Restaurant Choice Across the USA and Beyond Russo’s serves guests across the United States and internationally. Even with national and global operations, the brand continues to focus on fresh dough, made to order pizza, scratch made sauces, and authentic Italian recipes. For guests searching for the healthiest pizza choice, a healthy pizza chain, fresh Italian food, or a family friendly Italian restaurant, Russo’s offers a menu built around better ingredients and more flexible choices. Guests can dine in, order takeout, schedule pizza delivery, plan catering, enjoy lunch specials, or visit their nearest Russo’s location for fresh New York style pizza and Italian food. Fresh Choices Guests Can Order at Russo’s Russo’s menu gives guests several fresh and balanced options, including brick oven New York style pizza, fresh salads, grilled chicken dishes, seafood entrées, salmon, chicken Saltimbocca, burrata salads, pasta dishes, calzones, and classic Italian entrées. Guests can also customize many menu items based on appetite, preference, and lifestyle. This helps make Russo’s a strong choice for families, office lunches, group meals, takeout nights, and guests who want Italian food made with fresh ingredients. Find your nearest Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen location and enjoy fresh New York style pizza, scratch made pasta, salads, seafood, and authentic Italian entrées made with better ingredients. Frequently Asked Questions Why is Russo’s considered a healthier pizza chain? Russo’s focuses on fresh ingredients, house made pizza dough, scratch made sauces, premium olive oil, fresh vegetables, and made to order Italian food instead of relying heavily on frozen or overly processed ingredients. Does Russo’s serve healthy pizza options? Yes. Guests can choose fresh vegetable toppings, lighter pizza options, salads, grilled chicken dishes, seafood entrées, gluten free options at select locations, and customizable menu items based on their preferences. What type of pizza does Russo’s serve? Russo’s is known for authentic New York style pizza baked in a brick oven using hand stretched dough, premium mozzarella, scratch made sauce, and fresh toppings. Is Russo’s only a pizza restaurant? No. Russo’s is also an Italian restaurant serving fresh pasta, seafood dishes, salads, calzones, chicken entrées, catering options, lunch specials, and family style Italian meals. Does Russo’s operate outside the United States? Yes. Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen operates across the United States and internationally while continuing to focus on fresh ingredients, scratch cooking, and authentic Italian family recipes.

Russo’s Quietly Opens Anthony’s New York Italian, an Elevated Houston Dining Experience

May 25, 2026
Russo’s NY Pizzeria has long been known in Houston for New York-style pizza, casual Italian favorites, and a welcoming dining experience. According to a CultureMap Houston article, the Russo name is now connected to a new restaurant concept called Anthony’s New York Italian, which quietly opened with a more refined approach to Italian dining. While Russo’s NY Pizzeria remains a go-to spot for pizza, pasta, calzones, and family meals, Anthony’s introduces a more elevated side of the brand. Anthony’s New York Italian appears to offer a more elegant and personal restaurant experience compared to the fast casual style Russo’s is best known for. Instead of focusing primarily on quick, casual New York-style pies, the new restaurant creates a setting better suited for date nights, special occasions, and guests looking for a more polished Italian dining atmosphere. The concept gives the Russo brand a chance to showcase a more upscale interpretation of New York Italian food while still staying connected to the recipes and hospitality that made Russo’s recognizable. For fans of Russo’s NY Pizzeria, the quiet opening of Anthony’s New York Italian is an exciting step forward. It shows how the brand continues to grow beyond its well-known pizzeria roots while still honoring classic Italian flavors. With a more elevated and elegant dining experience, Anthony’s New York Italian adds another layer to the Russo story and gives Houston diners a new way to enjoy the flavors of New York Italian cuisine.  Source: CultureMap Houston https://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/popular-stories-betelgeuse-betelgeuse-arrest/

Russo’s NY Pizzeria Calzones Earn Attention for Big Flavor and Classic Italian Comfort

May 25, 2026
Russo’s NY Pizzeria is getting attention for one of its most satisfying Italian favorites: the calzone. A recent Chowhound article highlighting impressive chain restaurant calzones points to the continued popularity of this classic folded pizza-style dish, and Russo’s NY Pizzeria is a natural fit for the conversation. Known for New York-style pizza, fresh ingredients, and hearty Italian menu options, Russo’s offers calzones that deliver the kind of comfort food experience guests expect from an authentic neighborhood pizzeria. A great calzone starts with the right balance of dough, cheese, fillings, and flavor. At Russo’s NY Pizzeria, calzones are made with the same Italian-inspired approach that has helped the brand become recognized for its pizza and pasta. Each calzone gives guests a warm, baked, handheld meal filled with rich cheese and savory ingredients, making it a great choice for lunch, dinner, takeout, or a casual family meal. For customers who love pizza but want something a little different, a calzone offers the perfect mix of crispy crust, melted cheese, and classic Italian flavor. As more diners search for flavorful alternatives to traditional pizza, Russo’s NY Pizzeria calzones continue to stand out as a filling and memorable menu option. Whether ordered on their own or paired with other Italian favorites, they reflect what Russo’s does best: serving approachable, satisfying New York-style Italian food with quality and consistency. For anyone craving a hearty calzone from a trusted pizzeria, Russo’s NY Pizzeria remains a delicious place to start. Source: Chowhound https://www.chowhound.com/2173521/impressive-chain-calzones/
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