Hurricane season is approaching shortly (June). Anyone who has a mobile or stationary fuel storage tank, including construction companies should be prepared for the potential weather ahead. If you are not prepared, your site could be damaged along with your equipment, and even your employees could get severely injured. Below are 5 tips to prepare your fuel storage tank site for a hurricane.
TIP #1 WRITE DOWN A PLAN
Create an emergency plan. It’s vital that companies write their hurricane preparedness plan well in advance of a hurricane or even a storm. Your plan should include detailed steps for on-site preparations and evacuations. The main goal is to protect your employees and prevent on-site damage to your facilities and equipment.
TIP #2: INFORM ALL EMPLOYEES
From your project manager to the janitor, everyone in your company should be aware of your hurricane preparedness plan. If shelter is available on-site, then everyone needs to know where it is and how to reach it. If shelter is unavailable on-site, then there should be a plan for evacuating to a safer location. You should conduct drills regularly so that all employees can practice your evacuation plan. Update the plan as necessary.
TIP #3: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT
Every site should have an easily accessible emergency kit. This kit should be filled with necessary supplies such as:
- Basic first aid supplies (ex. bandages, gauze, sterilizing solutions, gloves, etc.)
- Non-perishable food
- Drink Water
- Emergency battery-operated electronics that can be used if the power goes out (ex. radio, lantern or flashlight, and extra batteries)
- An alert device such as an alarm or whistle
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, and sanitary items for personal use (toilet paper, sanitary napkins, etc.)
- A small toolset (ex. wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and a hammer)
- Portable cell phone chargers, such as USB rechargeable ones
- Local map and emergency contact info
TIP #4: MONITOR YOUR WEATHER
Monitor your weather regularly during hurricane season. Weather forecast sites will have the latest severe-weather alerts posted almost immediately, and notifications can be sent directly to an email or mobile number from most weather stations and even your cell company.
TIP #5: SECURE THE SITE & PREPARE FOR CLEANUP
Any equipment that can be stored indoors should be moved before the hurricane hits. Any equipment that is unable to be stored should be securely tied down so it won’t move or get damaged by the hurricane. It’s very important to safeguard on-site structures. Board up any open areas to help prevent internal water damage. Any debris which can be moved by the wind and cause damage to structures or employees should be regularly removed from the site. You should have a team, internal or third-party, ready to go once clear to clean up the area of hazardous chemicals, spilled fuel, or excess water once the hurricane has passed.