Hurricane season starts June 1, and it’s a reminder for contractors to have a plan ready before a storm ever appears on the radar.
A storm doesn’t need to make direct landfall to disrupt a project. North Carolina contractors saw this firsthand during the 2024 hurricane season with Hurricane Helene.
The difference between a controlled shutdown and a costly recovery usually comes down to what happens in the final 72 hours before conditions deteriorate.
This is not the time to squeeze in “one last task.” Fatigue, changing weather and compressed schedules increase the likelihood of mistakes and injuries.
72 HOURS OUT: SET DIRECTION EARLY
Three days before projected landfall, the priority is alignment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends clear emergency roles, evacuation procedures and accountability systems to be in place well before severe weather impacts operations.
Start by identifying the most exposed jobsites. A bridge project near water creates different risks than a highway paving job.
This is also when contractors should decide what equipment needs to be moved first. Lowboy trailers, generators, pumps, lifts and fuel tanks become harder to relocate as traffic increases and conditions worsen.
Fuel planning matters here too. Ahead of major storms, fuel availability becomes unpredictable as demand spikes and deliveries slow. Contractors that wait until the last minute to top off service trucks, generators and emergency equipment may find themselves without access when shutdown work still needs to happen.
Communication with crews should begin immediately, even if details are still evolving. Workers may need time to secure their homes, evacuate family members or make childcare arrangements.
Client communication belongs in this window as well. Clients understand weather delays. What frustrates them is uncertainty. A short update outlining shutdown timing, schedule impacts and next steps helps maintain confidence.
This is also the right time to review:
- Builder’s risk requirements
- Documentation procedures
- Rental equipment responsibilities
- Insurance reporting requirements
48 HOURS OUT: MOVE, SECURE, AND DOCUMENT
At 48 hours, planning should already be transitioning into execution. This is when contractors need to physically secure project sites.
That can include:
- Relocating equipment away from flood-prone areas
- Securing crane components according to manufacturer guidance
- Removing temporary fencing and signage
- Protecting exposed materials and electrical systems
- Stabilizing partially completed structures
- Clearing drainage paths around excavations and laydown yards
On roadway and utility projects, erosion-control measures should also be checked before heavy rainfall begins. Failed stormwater controls can create both safety and environmental compliance problems after the storm.
Documentation becomes critical during this stage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends thorough pre-event documentation because it helps accelerate insurance claims and recovery reporting.
That documentation should include:
- Photos and video of current site conditions
- Equipment condition and location
- Stored materials onsite
- Existing damage before the storm
- Fuel inventories
- Serial numbers for major equipment
Drone documentation can also help contractors quickly assess damage before crews fully return to the site.
Communication planning is needed as major storms routinely disrupt power and cellular service for hours—or days. Simple systems like group text chains, scheduled check-ins and printed emergency contacts are more effective than overly complicated platforms that crews won’t use.
Every crew should know:
- Who they report to
- When updates will happen
- Where information will be shared if systems fail
24 HOURS OUT: STOP WORK
With 24 hours remaining, the focus narrows. Major decisions should already be complete. The remaining work is verification.
Jobsites should be shut down. Loose materials secured. Equipment checked one final time. Crews off-site and accounted for.
This is not the time to squeeze in “one last task.” Fatigue, changing weather and compressed schedules increase the likelihood of mistakes and injuries.
Everyone should clearly understand:
- When operations stop
- When crews should stay home
- How post-storm check-ins will happen
- Who communicates restart procedures
Contractors should also confirm that documentation is backed up, emergency contacts are current and critical records remain accessible if offices lose power.
The countdown before a storm requires making multiple decisions. Every hour closer to landfall reduces flexibility, limits options and raises the cost of mistakes. By the time severe weather arrives, most of the important operational choices should already be behind the crew, not still being debated on the jobsite.
Start planning now. Save this construction site hurricane preparedness checklist and download the FEMA app.
PHOTO CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK/KONSTANTIN IVSHIN
