Hurricane Preparedness Guidelines for Construction Sites

Secure structures and equipment.

• Use rope, sandbags, ground anchors and other items to weigh down materials that could easily fly away.
• Cover materials with plastic sheeting, netting, or garbage bags to prevent water damage.
• Stack loose materials together and secure them with rope or duct tape to keep them from dispersing.
• Complete work on partially completed structures to minimize damage if time allows.

Remove materials and equipment when possible.

• Have your construction dumpster picked up or cover the container with a tarp.
• Remove or tie down portable bathrooms.
• Remove hazardous chemicals to prevent them from being released into the environment.
• Remove materials, tools or equipment that can be damaged by rising water.
• Move heavy equipment and machinery to a garage or other covered structure.
• Tear down and store light-weight fence screens and job site signage.
• Move any portable electronics, job site plans and other important documents from the construction trailer to a safe location offsite.
• Turn off power to the site and make sure fuel is available for power generators.

It's important to have an evacuation plan in place for your construction site. To determine when you need to leave, you should be familiar with the warning terms used for hurricanes.

• Hurricane/Tropical Storm watches mean that a hurricane or tropical storm is possible in the specified area.
• Hurricane/Tropical Storm warnings mean that a hurricane or tropical storm is expected to reach the area, typically within 24 hours.