Storm preparation is part of project management, not an improvised scramble. A written, site-specific plan with forecast triggers protects people, neighbors, finished work and the schedule.
In this article
- Why storm preparation belongs in the project plan
- Start with the contract and the insurance
- The SECURE system
- S: a site-specific plan
- E: escalation tied to the forecast
- C: cranes, scaffolding and temporary structures
- U: anything that can fly
- R: protecting the work in place
- Protecting records and documentation
- Coordinating subcontractors
- Workers come first
- E: safe re-entry and assessment
- Schedule impacts and time extensions
- A worked example
- Run a drill before the season
- Communicating with the owner
- Protecting neighbors and the public
- Hazardous materials and fuel
- Managing several sites at once
- Planning the recovery before the storm
- Common mistakes
- Checklist
- Frequently asked questions
- Frequently asked questions
Why storm preparation belongs in the project plan
A hurricane or severe storm can turn an active jobsite into a hazard for the neighborhood. Unsecured materials become projectiles, scaffolding and cranes can fail, open roofs and walls let water destroy finished work, and excavations flood. The damage is not only to your project: it can hit neighboring properties, people and your company's insurance record for years. Contractors in hurricane-exposed regions treat storm preparation as a normal part of project management, with a written plan, assigned responsibilities and triggers tied to forecasts, not as an improvised scramble the day before landfall.
Start with the contract and the insurance
Before the season, read what your contracts say about severe weather: how delays are handled, whether there are provisions for weather events and time extensions, who bears the cost of preparation and protection, and notice requirements. Check your builder's risk policy and general liability coverage: what they cover for storm damage, what deductibles apply, especially named-storm deductibles, and what documentation the insurer will require after a loss. Discuss this with the owner and your insurance agent before a storm, not after.
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The SECURE system
Organize storm preparation in six steps:
- Site plan: a written, site-specific storm plan updated for each phase of the project.
- Escalation triggers: actions tied to forecast milestones.
- Crane, scaffolding and structures: securing temporary structures and equipment.
- Unsecured materials: removing or tying down everything that can fly.
- Remaining weather protection: protecting the building envelope and the work in place.
- Evaluation after: safe re-entry, documentation and recovery.
S: a site-specific plan
Every jobsite in a storm-prone area should have a written plan that names who is responsible for each action, lists the equipment and materials on site, identifies what must be removed and what must be secured, includes contacts for subcontractors, suppliers, the owner, utilities and the insurer, and describes how the site will be shut down and when workers will be released. The plan changes as the project progresses: a site in the excavation phase has different risks than one with an open roof or a tower crane. Review it at the start of the season and whenever the project reaches a new phase.
E: escalation tied to the forecast
Tie actions to forecast milestones so nobody has to debate what to do under pressure. A common structure:
- Start of the season: review the plan, stock supplies, confirm contacts and schedule a drill.
- Storm possible in several days: review the plan with foremen and subcontractors, stop delivering materials that cannot be protected, begin clearing debris.
- Watch issued: secure or remove loose materials, lower and secure equipment per manufacturer instructions, protect openings, back up project records.
- Warning issued: complete shutdown, final walkthrough with photos, release workers with enough time to prepare their own homes and evacuate if ordered.
Follow official forecasts and local emergency management instructions, and never keep crews working in conditions that put them at risk.
C: cranes, scaffolding and temporary structures
Tower cranes, mobile cranes, hoists and scaffolding need specific procedures defined by the manufacturer, the engineer responsible for temporary structures and applicable regulations. Tower cranes are commonly left free to weathervane following the manufacturer's instructions; mobile cranes are lowered and secured. Scaffolding may need additional ties, and netting and wraps that catch wind may need to come off. Temporary fencing with windscreens acts like a sail and may need the screens removed or the fence laid down. Get these procedures in writing from the equipment providers before the season.
U: anything that can fly
Debris is one of the main dangers in high winds. Walk the site looking for anything that can move: sheets of plywood and drywall, roofing materials, insulation, trash, portable toilets, signs, small equipment, tools and dumpsters with loose content. Remove what you can, tie down or store the rest inside secured areas, empty dumpsters and secure their lids, and anchor portable toilets or remove them. Coordinate deliveries so large quantities of material do not arrive just before a storm.
R: protecting the work in place
Water damage can destroy months of finished work. Close up the building envelope as much as possible: temporary protection on openings, secured roofing underlayment, protected interior finishes, stored materials raised off the floor and sensitive equipment moved to protected areas. Check drainage around the site and excavations, clear inlets and consider pumps for areas prone to flooding. Shut off or protect temporary power as appropriate and coordinate with the utility if needed.
Protecting records and documentation
Back up drawings, submittals, daily reports, schedules and financial records to cloud storage before the storm. Take dated photos and video of the entire site after securing it; this documents the condition before the event and supports insurance claims and time-extension requests. Record what was done, when and by whom in the daily report.
Coordinating subcontractors
Subcontractors own much of the equipment and material on site. Include storm preparation responsibilities in subcontracts and in pre-construction meetings, share the plan and assign each trade specific tasks: the roofer secures roofing materials, the electrician handles temporary power, the scaffolding provider secures scaffolds. Confirm completion before releasing everyone.
Workers come first
Release workers early enough to prepare their families and homes. Communicate clearly when the site will close and how and when they will be contacted to return. After the storm, confirm the site is safe before anyone returns, and check on your people; many of them may have damage at home.
E: safe re-entry and assessment
After the storm passes and authorities allow access, a small, qualified team should assess the site before crews return. Look for structural damage, downed power lines, unstable scaffolding, flooding, damaged excavations and hazardous materials. Do not assume temporary structures are safe until qualified people inspect them. Document damage thoroughly with photos and video before cleanup begins, notify the insurer and the owner as the contract and policy require, and update the schedule.
Schedule impacts and time extensions
Storms cause delays before, during and after the event: shutdown days, cleanup, rework, supply disruptions and labor shortages. Follow your contract's notice requirements for delays and document the impact with daily reports, photos and schedule analysis. Timely notice and good records are what turn a legitimate delay into an approved time extension instead of a dispute.
A worked example
A mid-size GC has a four-story building under construction with the roof partly installed when a hurricane watch is issued. Because it has a written plan, the team completes the securing tasks in a day and a half: removes loose materials, lowers the mobile crane, secures scaffolding per the supplier's instructions, covers openings and backs up records. Damage after the storm is limited to some temporary fencing and a small area of wet insulation. Cleanup and repairs cost about $18,000 and four working days, far less than similar sites that had not prepared. The numbers are illustrative.
Run a drill before the season
Walk through the plan once before the season with superintendents, foremen and key subcontractors. Time how long securing the site takes and find the gaps. Most plans look fine on paper and fail on details: missing tie-downs, nobody with the key to the storage container, no ladder long enough to reach the netting.
Communicating with the owner
Owners want to know their project is protected. Before the season, share the storm plan summary with the owner and agree on who approves extra protection costs and how decisions will be communicated when a storm approaches. When a watch is issued, send a short update with the actions being taken. After the storm, report the condition of the site with photos and the recovery plan. Clear communication reduces disputes about costs and delays later.
Protecting neighbors and the public
A jobsite in a neighborhood or downtown area has responsibilities beyond its fence. Materials blown off a site can damage cars, homes and people. Pay extra attention to sites next to occupied buildings, roads and schools. Secure perimeter fencing, remove signs and banners that can catch wind, and make sure no hazards are left accessible to the public after the site is closed.
Hazardous materials and fuel
Fuel, chemicals, adhesives and gas cylinders need secure storage before a storm to prevent spills and fires. Remove what you can from the site, and store the rest according to safety data sheets and applicable regulations, away from areas likely to flood. Flooded sites with spilled fuel create environmental problems and cleanup costs that can exceed the storm damage itself.
Managing several sites at once
Companies with several active projects need a central coordinator during a storm. Rank sites by risk: height, open envelope, cranes, proximity to water and neighbors. Assign crews and supervisors to each site ahead of time, and track completion of the securing checklist on a shared list. Without central coordination, everyone runs to the most visible site and the smaller ones are forgotten.
Planning the recovery before the storm
The fastest recoveries are planned in advance. Before the season, line up cleanup crews, dumpsters, pumps, generators and temporary protection suppliers, and agree on priority service. After a storm, those resources become scarce and expensive. Contractors who have agreements in place restart work days or weeks before those who start calling after the storm.
Common mistakes
- Having a generic company plan but no site-specific plan.
- Waiting for the warning to start securing the site.
- Leaving windscreens on fences and wraps on scaffolding.
- Accepting large deliveries right before a storm.
- Not photographing the site before and after.
- Sending crews back before the site is assessed.
Checklist
- Review contracts and insurance before the season.
- Write and update a site-specific storm plan by project phase.
- Define actions for each forecast milestone.
- Get written procedures for cranes, hoists and scaffolding.
- Assign storm tasks to each subcontractor.
- Back up records and photograph the secured site.
- Assess the site before re-entry and document everything.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you prepare a construction site for a hurricane?
Follow a written site-specific plan: remove or secure loose materials, lower and secure equipment per manufacturer instructions, address scaffolding and fencing windscreens, protect openings and finished work, back up records, photograph the site and release workers in time.
What happens to tower cranes during a hurricane?
Procedures come from the crane manufacturer and the responsible engineer. Tower cranes are commonly left free to weathervane following those instructions, while mobile cranes are lowered and secured.