If you’re not a boat captain or crew, you probably don’t pay attention to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) announcements until May. That’s when NOAA issues its hurricane season prediction for the year.
Apparently, the 2021 storm season will not be as cruel as 2020. But it will be very active. Again. The prediction is a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season.
Following a catastrophic hurricane, there’s a construction business surge from demands for damage repairs. There’s also inflated materials and labor costs.
Construction Business Damage Control: Be Prepared
If you have projects in U.S. coastal regions, now’s the time to review insurance policies. Some policies do not cover earthquake, flood, or hurricane damage.
Then, check with your contractors and subcontractors to confirm their insurance coverage. Next, review your open contracts to review the wording about weather-related delays.
Technology has made hurricane tracking much more accurate. When the first storm warning is issued, you’ll have a good idea of how much time you have to initiate hurricane protocols (the ones you developed before a weather-related disaster).
Here are some tasks to protect your jobsite against the threat of hurricane damage:
- Assign a “storm leader” to coordinate crew assignments.
- Document the project’s condition and work status by making a video/photographic record of the job site and surrounding properties.
- Focus on reducing the storm’s impact; close structural openings, minimize flood risks from groundwater/rainfall, etc.
- Protect materials and equipment that cannot be moved with netting, banding, anchoring screws, or other materials.
Returning to Work Safely Post-Storm
Review OSHA’s Hurricane eMatrix guide for post-storm actions. The information will provide employee safety recommendations for returning to work.
- Inspect the jobsite.
- Determine the damage.
- Videotape/photograph the scene.
- Notify insurance and owner(s) before making repairs or initiating cleanup.
- Communicate who is responsible for repairs and cleanup.
- Check the structural integrity of buildings, formwork, scaffolding, etc. and secure/reinforce if needed.
- Remove standing water.
- Before re-powering, check all electrical connections, junction boxes, and grounding. Pay attention to extension cords’ condition/placement.
- Document all storm-related damage, delays, and losses. Request subcontractors do the same.
Construction Business is Our Business
The marketing professionals at Construction Monitor want to share construction business-related information. But our business is encouraging you to develop your business. No company is too small to have a marketing plan.
Ask us about ways to develop business leads using building permit information. And stay safe this hurricane season.