Protect Your Jobsite With These Storm Preparation Tips

Plenty of planning comes before walking onto a jobsite – blueprints, customer meetings, project management and more. This planning should also include storm preparation for your site. Whether it’s planning for a major weather event or prepping for a common summer storm, hail or high winds, there are simple steps to take to minimize the likelihood of damage to your jobsite. Here are some smart ways to prepare your jobsite for storms:

1. Create a Preparation Plan

Similar to an emergency plan, your storm preparation plan should detail what your team’s responsibilities are if severe weather is expected. It should also include a storm preparedness checklist. Your checklist items should include information like:

• Contact information for your team and customers
• Directions for how to secure building materials and equipment
• Instructions for taking photos of the jobsite before the storm hits
• A list of commonly needed storm-prep materials that you can order from your supplier

2. Secure the Site, Building Materials and Equipment

Sometimes you have many days to plan for a storm; sometimes you just have hours. Whatever time you have, always put the safety of yourself and your team first. If you have notice that a severe weather event is moving into the area, secure your jobsite in the following ways:

• Put equipment away
• Board up or use tarps to cover any exposed parts of the building’s structure
• Remove, weigh down or secure any materials that may become airborne in high winds
• Remove hazardous chemicals
• Stack and cover building materials with tarps or plastic to minimize water damage

3. Stock Up on Necessary Supplies

Stock up on the basics like tarps, ropes, duct tape and plywood so that you can secure your jobsite and have what you need to efficiently and temporarily patch up anything that the storm may damage. And don’t overlook the importance of donating extra materials or volunteering your time immediately after a storm hits to support cleanup efforts – the smallest acts of kindness can go a long way in building goodwill with the community.

4. Have a Plan for Flooding

If heavy rains are expected, make sure any holes or open windows are boarded up or covered. Anticipate vulnerable areas for water or debris so you can implement temporary solutions that minimize water damage and prevent flooding. Consider having water pumps on hand in case you need to quickly move water away from your jobsite.

5. Frequently Monitor the Weather

Always monitor the weather and consider assigning this responsibility to someone on your team if a watch or warning is issued. You should also set up severe weather alert notifications on your phone.

6. Make Sure Employees Know the Plan

Your storm preparation plan won’t do you any good if your team doesn’t know about it. Be sure to communicate your plan details so that everyone is able to confidently and efficiently take action when severe weather is expected.

Once the storm has passed and it’s safe to return to your site, assess damage and plan for any necessary cleanup efforts. ABC Supply associates are here to help guide you through your storm work. We also recommend that you take some time after a storm event to reflect on how things went and learn what you can do better next time to better your business and the community.

Looking for more storm preparation tips? Tom Johnston, research and development manager for Town & Country Industries, a division of ABC Supply, shares what you should know about hurricane protection.