CPHD
Preparation Tips for Construction Sites During Major Storms
Just as you prepare your home and family for an impending hurricane, it’s important to prepare construction job sites. Planning ahead now can make a big difference in how well construction sites fair during the storm.
- Please make sure that if the wind speed exceeded 45 MPH, the tower crane is set for out of services operation and free to weathervane. This is a requirement as per our pre-construction manual.
- Ensure construction is completed to a point where the building can resist the storm, or provide temporary bracing and shoring to prevent a collapse or projectiles.
- Turn off all electricity, water and gas to the site.
- Approximately 60 to 48 hours before the hurricane is expected to make landfall, consider canceling the delivery of building materials to all job sites except any materials needed to secure the building site from storm damage.
- You are advised to activate your hurricane/storm job site plan during this window of time. Notify subcontractors to help secure the building site. Helpful hints for site protection include:
- Secure all job sites, giving priority attention to those located in the most populated areas,
- Clean up all construction debris and other items that could become dangerous projectiles,
- Tie or band together all loose plywood and lumber,
- Secure other loose building supplies,
- Remove permit board and all job site signage,
- Locate and turn off electricity, water and gas.
- Also, secure all portable toilets. Portable toilets can also be anchored adjacent to L-shaped walls of the home under construction, and they can be weighted down with concrete blocks or sand.
After the Storm, Please Survey Your Construction Site for Damage
- If you smell gas, leave the area and call 911 immediately
- If you have concerns regarding the safety of your building, please contact your insurance company, a structural engineer, or a licensed contractor. For commercial buildings or apartment complexes contact the management company or building engineer.
