Home
>
Strategic Planning
>
Under Construction During the Storm ? A Hurricane Guide for Businesses that are Under Construction

Under Construction During the Storm ? A Hurricane Guide for Businesses that are Under Construction

As a business owner, you've likely created a hurricane plan for your business and your family, but did you overlook your construction project? Don't worry, you're not alone. Most people don't even think about preparing their construction site because it's not written into their "construction timeline." But when a hurricane threatens, general contractors usually get panicked phone calls asking about potential damage, delays and cost.

You can save time and frustration by contacting your general contractor to discuss their plan before a hurricane strikes. You've invested a lot of resources into your construction project, so insist that your contractor safeguard it the same way that you safeguard your home. Here is a guide on what to expect from your general contractor's hurricane preparation plan:

1. Preparation Timing ? A construction site has infinitely more hazards than a completed building, so it is reasonable to assume that the site won't be properly secured in one day. Depending on the size of the project, your general contractor should start preparing your site three to five days in advance of the storm.

2. Actual Building Preparation ? Your general contractor should complete a structural analysis of your building to assess its weaknesses in the days prior to the storm. Is the roof up? Are any of the frames or trusses exposed? Are the exterior openings exposed? Any work that will help the structural integrity of the building should continue if it can be completed in time (this might include concrete or roofing). At the same time, any work that is highly vulnerable to damage (like landscaping or exterior painting), should be put on hold until after the storm.

3. Exterior Site Preparation ? Any lose material like 2x4's, rebar, scaffolding, and roofing tile could become a dangerous projectile. Your general contractor should secure all of these items to protect your building and to protect surrounding businesses and homes. Larger jobsites might require an engineering consultation to properly secure materials. Additionally, your general contractor should verify any onsite construction trailers are securely tied down, dumpsters should be emptied or removed, portable toilettes should be removed and any deliveries of non-essential materials should be placed on hold.

4. Construction Documents ? The same way that you would want to protect insurance documents or a mortgage, your general contractor should be protecting the jobsite documentation in a waterproof container, or relocating it to the contractor's main office.

5. Builders Risk Insurance ? This is a policy that the general contractor purchases on your behalf. It is your policy to protect your investment, so make sure that you read it thoroughly and understand it. Specifically, you should be aware the following:

a. Last year, there were several disputes over who paid the insurance deductible for damage. Since then, some insurance companies have already written that clarification into the policy. If the insurance policy doesn't mention it, your contract with the general contractor should stipulate whether you or the general contractor is responsible for the deductible.

b. Several buildings that were damaged last year were under-insured, so make sure that your insurance covers the full value of the building.

c. If your project will be completed during hurricane season, consider purchasing a policy that covers an extra month or two so that you are locked into a lower premium rate if your project is delayed. Most insurance companies will allow you to drop the policy if the project is completed early.

d. Builders Risk Insurance does NOT cover flooding or mold. However, you can purchase separate policies.

You've prepared for everything else when the storm strikes, don't forget to plan for your construction project too.

Cyndee Woolley is the Marketing Coordinator for Professional Building Systems. http://www.pbscontractors.com/

no-contract cleaning service Mundelein ..

In The News:

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.

FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

Under Construction During the Storm ? A Hurricane Guide for Businesses that are Under Construction

Strategic Planning