Preparing Your Construction Equipment for Hurricane Season

Rumor has it that hurricane season may start early this year. This has everyone on edge, regardless of whether they’re in the construction industry or not. 

There are many tasks to accomplish when preparing your construction equipment for hurricane season. You must make sure your site and equipment are secure. 

Here are a few tips on how to do just that:

1. Review your safety plan

When a hurricane is approaching, the first thing you should do is review your safety plan with your team. Construction sites change frequently, so your plan from last year may no longer be relevant. When reviewing your plan, consider the following:

• Storage of hazardous materials
• The communication process for sub trades and employees
• Storage of equipment
• Materials/machinery that may need to be moved to higher or lower levels, or even relocated off site
• Who will be doing what

Make sure to clearly delegate tasks to everyone to help secure and move equipment around the site. This will help you stay organized and safe when a hurricane hits.

You’ll also want to create a plan for returning to work after the hurricane has passed. This will include plans for:

• Communication between site supervisors, employees, and sub trades
• Equipment checks that need to occur before operation is resumed
• Areas of the site that need to be deemed “safe” before returning, and who will make this judgment call

2. Communicate with your employees in advance

Let your employees know that a hurricane is predicted to hit and when, what to expect, how they can expect to maintain communication, and what you will be doing to keep them, the site, and the equipment safe. It’s also important to have a backup plan for communication in case of power outages or other disruptions.

This way, they can be prepared mentally and emotionally for the possibility of a hurricane, and they will know what is expected of them should one occur.

3. Take inventory

Before a hurricane hits, you should take inventory of everything you have and everything you need. This includes anything from hand tools and heavy machinery, to batteries and water pump or generator rentals. Make sure you not only know where everything is but also that everything’s in good working order.

Please do not stockpile supplies! Hopefully, we’ve all learned this lesson during lockdown. If you have time, you can also do a thorough inspection of your equipment to ensure that there are no potential safety hazards and make note of any issues that are present prior to the hurricane’s landfall.

4. Find somewhere to house your equipment

Once you’ve taken inventory of your equipment, you need to find somewhere to store it–ideally, a warehouse or somewhere sturdy. 

If you don’t have one, try to find a covered area on your property that will protect your equipment from the elements. If possible, elevate your equipment off the ground to prevent flooding damage. Just make sure to avoid parking anything on a slope or an edge and away from any potential falling hazards like trees or poles.

5. Stay in touch with employees

After a hurricane hits, it’s important to stay in touch with your employees. Let them know the status of the site and that you’re working on getting it up and running again. 

Hear their concerns and grant them grace when dealing with personal damages and challenges. Be flexible and understanding.

Preparing your construction equipment for hurricane season can be a stressful task, but it doesn’t have to be. Take the time to do this, and you’ll be glad you did when the storm hits.

When disaster strikes, call Stan’s Airboat & Marsh Excavator Service. We can help assist in disaster cleanup and recovery. We’ve even been awarded a contract by the U.S. Coast Guard to perform nationwide disaster response and rescue efforts. Contact us today to request a quote!