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Hurricanes

Arm yourself with valuable lessons and tips to prepare this season.

Hurricane season starts on June 1 each year, but extreme windstorms can strike anytime

Tips to Help you Prepare for a Hurricane

Emergency Response Team

Establish a Hurricane Emergency Response team and keep the contact list current. When a hurricane is imminent, assemble the team, supplies and equipment at a designated safe location on site.

Power Supply

Anticipate loss of electrical power and other utilities. Consider emergency generators, alternative fuels, and similar contingency arrangements. Make  sure your generator, if you have one, is serviced and ready if needed with a full tank of fuel.

Transportation

Identify alternative means of transportation and alternative routes for all critical personnel, services, suppliers, contractors and establish relationships  with lease and rental companies. Establish emergency communication methods. Release non-essential staff or direct them to a designated safe location.

Monitor

Monitor weather and flood reports through the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Plans

Prepare or locate and maintain a scaled plan or diagram of the facility that clearly shows the location of fire protection & emergency equipment. If flood is anticipated, obtain and review applicable flood maps for each location and evaluate flood susceptibility of each building. Check and seal any other possible water entry points & deenergize equipment that may be submerged.

Buildings & Structures

Review the structural integrity of each building and structure, including rotted wood, rusted metal, physical damage, loose/missing fasteners, etc. Replace or repair all damaged, missing or compromised components.

Roofs, Walls & Windows

Inspect roof coverings, perimeter flashings, gutters, drains, ventilators and other roof-mounted equipment. Inspect exterior wall coverings for attachment, damage and weather tightness. Board up windows, operate shutters, tie down equipment.

Businesses & Enterprises

If you operate near hurricane prone areas, have a plan of what to do before, during and after a hurricane strikes.

The following tips and actions may be helpful to consider before a hurricane.

Action to Take Before the Storm Season 

  • Establish a Hurricane Emergency Response team and keep the contact list up to date
  • Service your generators and other back-up power equipment regularly; weekly trip tests and periodic full load testing should be done 
  • Identify alternative means of transportation and alternative routes for all critical personnel, services, suppliers, contractors and establish relationships with lease and rental companies

Buildings and Structures

  • Review the structural integrity of each building and structure, including rotted wood, rusted metal, physical damage, loose/missing fasteners, etc. 
  • Replace or repair all damaged, missing or compromised components. Inspect roof coverings, perimeter flashings, gutters, drains, ventilators and other roof-mounted equipment. Inspect exterior wall coverings for attachment, damage and weather tightness
  • Check and seal any other possible water entry points. Purchase and store any material needed for storm protection, such as lumber and hardware 

Fire Protection 

  • Obtain a scaled blueprint of the facility that identifies the location of all fire protection and other emergency equipment; keep it offsite 
  • Inspect fire water tanks for structural integrity 
  • Ensure that all fire protection equipment is serviced and operational 

Emergency Communication

  • Make arrangement for several forms of emergency communications including cell phones, two-way radios and ham radio operators

When a Storm is Imminent

Assemble the hurricane emergency response team, supplies and equipment at a designated safe location on site. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a resource with current storm updates and preparedness guidance. You can access it at https://www.noaa.gov/weather

Consider the Following

  • Emergency lighting 
  • Plywood and screws 
  • Sandbags 
  • Portable pumps and hoses 
  • Emergency generators 
  • Roofing paper 
  • Caulking compound 
  • Tarps and rope 
  • Tools, manual and power 
  • Shovels, axes, etc. 
  • Saws and chains 
  • Sandbags 
  • Emergency telephone lists 
  • Tape for windows doors and other openings
  • Non-perishable food, water, first aid equipment, lighting, and two-way communication equipment for the team that will remain on site 
  • Protect important paper records from wind, rain, flooding and debris 
  • When/if the decision is made, shut down operations and processes safely in accordance with original equipment manufacturers recommendations 
  • Back up important computer data and records and store backups in a safe location, preferably offsite 
  • Release non-essential staff or direct them to a designated safe location

Buildings and Structures

  • Fill all aboveground tanks with product to improve stability and minimize damage from wind 
  • Anchor and tie down all structures, equipment and storage in the yard including small buildings and sheds, trailers, conveyors, mobile equipment, lumber, process equipment; move smaller objects inside 
  • When possible, move important equipment and stock if subject to potential wind, collapse, water or other weather exposure; if equipment or stock cannot be relocated consider additional protection with lumber, tarps and ropes 
  • Move elevators up above potential flood levels 
  • Board up windows, operate shutters and tie down equipment as needed

Emergency Equipment

  • Ensure emergency generators, water pumps, etc., are operational and fuel tanks are full 
  • Clean all catch basins, drains, and drainage ditches
  • Lower the levels of retention ponds; ensure all sump pumps are operational and connected to emergency power 

Fire Protection

  • Ensure all fuel tanks are full and all outside fire protection equipment is secured 
  • Verify all fire water tanks and reservoirs are full

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a resource with current storm updates and preparedness guidance. You can access it at https://www.noaa.gov/weather

Tips for Businesses

  • Designate a member of the Hurricane Emergency Response Team to monitor weather conditions and communicate required actions as regularly as possible 
  • Turn off non-essential lighting, machinery and equipment. Anticipate power outages and surges; be prepared to shut down susceptible systems such as computers 
  • Board up windows, operate shutters, tie down equipment as needed 
  • Shut off all flammable and combustible liquid piping and gas lines at the source or entry into the property to reduce the likelihood of release if pipes are broken; when equipment or processes must be kept in operation, service to all other areas of the plant should be secured using isolation valves; pipes should be properly supported and protected from wind and debris 
  • Avoid elevators 
  • The plant emergency organization should remain on site if safe to do so until the emergency has passed; patrol the property looking for structural damage, fires and flooding

Consider Flooding Potential

  • De-energize equipment that may be submerged 
  • Move equipment and stock to higher locations or protect with sandbags, consider raising elevators 
  • Verify operation of pumps and other de-watering equipment

Prepare to Evacuate Under the Following Scenarios

  • If you are directed by local authorities—follow evacuation orders and other instructions 
  • If you are in a mobile home or temporary structures— such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground 
  • If in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations

Tips for Businesses

  • Designate a member of the Hurricane Emergency Response Team to monitor weather conditions and communicate required actions as regularly as possible 
  • Turn off non-essential lighting, machinery and equipment. Anticipate power outages and surges; be prepared to shut down susceptible systems such as computers 
  • Board up windows, operate shutters, tie down equipment as needed 
  • Shut off all flammable and combustible liquid piping and gas lines at the source or entry into the property to reduce the likelihood of release if pipes are broken; when equipment or processes must be kept in operation, service to all other areas of the plant should be secured using isolation valves; pipes should be properly supported and protected from wind and debris 
  • Avoid elevators 
  • The plant emergency organization should remain on site if safe to do so until the emergency has passed; patrol the property looking for structural damage, fires and flooding

Consider Flooding Potential

  • De-energize equipment that may be submerged 
  • Move equipment and stock to higher locations or protect with sandbags, consider raising elevators 
  • Verify operation of pumps and other de-watering equipment

Prepare to Evacuate Under the Following Scenarios

  • If you are directed by local authorities – follow evacuation orders and other instructions 
  • If you are in a mobile home or temporary structures – such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground 
  • If in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations

Downloadable Materials

Filename
before-a-hurricane-tip-sheet.pdf
Size
113 KB
Format
application/pdf
Before a Hurricane Tip Sheet

Filename
during-a-hurricane-tip-sheet.pdf
Size
108 KB
Format
application/pdf
During a Hurricane Tip Sheet

Filename
after-a-hurricane-tip-sheet.pdf
Size
106 KB
Format
application/pdf
After a Hurricane Tip Sheet

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