As hurricane season approaches, proactive preparation is crucial, especially for organizations in high-risk areas. Taking early action safeguards employees, minimizes disruptions, and ensures business continuity during and after the storm.

We’ve drawn on over 20 years of experience assisting organizations and governments with disaster response and recovery services that protect lives and rebuild communities to compile the following checklist for hurricane preparedness. 

Learn about the phases of hurricane preparedness; key actions to take before, during, and after the storm; supporting staff and communities during recovery; and more.

Why Hurricane Preparedness is Essential for Organizations?

Proactive hurricane planning is crucial for businesses and institutions. Hurricanes bring high winds, heavy rain, storm surges, tornados, flooding, and devastation to people, property, and operations from coastal regions to far inland.  

Storms can cause severe disruptions, financial losses, and safety hazards. Studies estimate that the 2024 hurricane season resulted in nearly $500 billion in economic losses and 335 deaths on the U.S. mainland. 

Acuity understands these risks and is committed to building resilience for organizations facing natural disasters. Our comprehensive and integrated preparedness, rapid response, and recovery services help impacted communities recover in days and weeks.

The Three Phases of Hurricane Preparedness

The key to workplace hurricane preparedness is understanding the three-phase structure: 

  1. Before the Storm
  2. During the Storm
  3. After the Storm

This structure helps you prepare in a chronological and manageable manner – from understanding your organization’s hurricane risk to creating an emergency plan, securing and protecting your facility, readying employees, sheltering safely, staying connected, and more.

Before the Storm

Workplace hurricane preparedness requires a proactive approach to ensure the safety of employees, the protection of assets, and the continuation of operations. Here’s an outline of key actions to take before a hurricane arrives:

1. Develop a Response Plan

  • Establish clear roles for key personnel, including management and safety officers. 
  • Create a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that identifies critical functions and outlines steps for maintaining or resuming the functions, including remote work options. 
  • Define evacuation plans with designated routes and assembly points. 
  • Implement a communications plan with a spokesperson to provide updates to employees and customers.

2. Conduct Team Training

  • Conduct regular hurricane evacuation drills and tabletop exercises so staff can familiarize themselves with response protocols. Each department should receive specific training for their unique threats. For instance, IT staff should focus on data protection while facilities teams understand how to secure infrastructure. 
  • Provide first aid and basic safety training, especially for leadership, so those in charge can make informed decisions and prioritize employee safety during emergencies.

3. Update Contact Lists

  • Update your emergency contact list regularly, including personal phone numbers, alternative emails, and addresses for key staff, essential suppliers, and service providers, such as electricians and plumbers. 
  • Keep information for local emergency services and power companies current.
  • Use an employee management system so you can quickly access and update contact info and establish an easy way to send alerts.

4. Gather Supplies Early

Stock an essential supplies kit with flashlights, extra batteries, first aid kits, bottled water, non-perishable food, and protective gear such as gloves and masks. 

5. Ensure Readiness Across Departments

To ensure the efficiency and safety of operations during a hurricane, focus on several key areas.

  • Secure and back up IT systems. Have a remote work plan ready if offices become inaccessible. 
  • Reinforce windows, doors, and roofs. Identify flood-prone areas and use sandbags or flood barriers for protection. 
  • Ensure that employees have access to evacuation route information, shelter options, and temporary accommodations. Set up protocols for reporting their status during and after the storm. 
  • Review insurance policies for hurricane coverage, including business interruption. Set aside emergency funds for potential operational costs.

Emergency Supply Checklist

Items included in a hurricane emergency kit such as water, medication, flashlight, and mask

Your business emergency supply checklist should include both individual and facility-level items, including:

Employee Emergency Kit: Each employee should have a personal emergency kit with essential supplies to sustain them for at least three days:

  • Water: At least 1 gallon per person per day.
  • Non-perishable food: High-energy snacks and ready-to-eat meals (canned soups, protein bars).
  • Manual can opener: If storing canned food.
  • Personal hygiene products: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, wipes, and feminine hygiene products.
  • Medications: A seven-day supply of prescription medications and any necessary medical equipment (e.g., inhalers, insulin, EpiPen).
  • Cash: Small bills and coins, as ATMs and card payments may not work.
  • Important documents: Copies of ID, insurance, emergency contacts, and a list of medications (stored in a waterproof bag).
  • Flashlight and batteries

Facility-Level Emergency Supplies: Supplies should be stored in an easily accessible, secure location and be sufficient to support all employees on-site for three to five days.

  • Emergency water: One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days (including extra for sanitation).
  • Bulk non-perishable food: Freeze-dried meals, canned goods, and energy bars.
  • Large coolers and ice packs 
  • Backup generator: With enough fuel for at least 72 hours.
  • First aid station and supplies
  • Extension cords and power strips 
  • Emergency lighting: LED lanterns, rechargeable work lights, and glow sticks.
  • Cleaning supplies: Disinfectant wipes, garbage bags, gloves, and paper towels.
  • Fire extinguishers

Critical Documents and Records

To ensure business continuity and quick recovery, your checklist for hurricane preparedness should include a plan to protect physical and digital documents, including: 

  • Business insurance documents
  • Licenses and permits
  • Employee IDs and records
  • Tax documents
  • Articles of incorporation and partnership agreements
  • Vendor and supplier contracts
  • Payroll records
  • Emergency contact lists
  • Inventory records

Where possible, use waterproof containers for physical copies and secure cloud storage for digital files. 

Facility and Infrastructure Preparations

Team reviewing emergency supplies and food inside facility during hurricane

Minimize damage, protect assts, and ensure faster recovery by taking the following steps to physically secure your facility:

  • Board up windows
  • Reinforce entry points with heavy-duty bolts
  • Trim trees and remove weak branches
  • Secure outdoor objects
  • Test sump pumps
  • Inspect and test backup generators
  • Back up all critical data

Acuity has extensive experience in mitigating facility risks through customized risk assessments, structural reinforcements, and business continuity planning. Our approach focuses on:

  • Pre-hurricane facility audits to identify weak points.
  • Storm-resistant infrastructure recommendations tailored to business needs.
  • Emergency preparedness training for employees and facility managers.

Communications and Employee Readiness

Effective communication before a hurricane is critical for employee safety, business continuity, and quick recovery. Here’s how your business can prepare:

  • Define roles and assign responsibilities: Form a Crisis Management Team with leaders for HR, IT, facilities, and security. Assign roles for alerts, communication, evacuations, and recovery management.
  • Create a contact tree: Create a contact tree listing all employees, vendors, and key stakeholders, including various contact methods (phone, text, email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and emergency alert apps).
  • Rehearse evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures: Conduct regular drills to familiarize employees with evacuation routes and meeting points. Ensure they know safe areas and emergency supply locations for sheltering in place.
  • Ensure multilingual communication: Provide emergency instructions in multiple languages (if applicable) and assign bilingual staff to key communication roles.

During the Storm

If your business shelters in place during a hurricane, ensure staff follow safety measures: stay away from windows and exterior walls, monitor emergency alerts, use battery-powered radios for updates, keep emergency supplies accessible, and turn off utilities if instructed. Most importantly, stay indoors until officials declare it safe.

After the Storm

Once the storm has passed, take immediate actions to assess damage and facility and staff safety before resuming operations.

  • Prioritize safety and check for injuries
  • Assess facility structural integrity and hazards
  • Avoid downed power lines
  • Document all losses
  • Follow recovery protocols and activate your business continuity plan

Read too: Understanding Hurricane Categories: What Each Means for Your Emergency Response

Go-Bag Essentials for Quick Evacuation

A well-prepared emergency go-bag provides supplies for evacuations. It should be a lightweight, portable backpack filled with essentials:

  • Clothing and rain gear
  • At least one liter of water per person
  • Non-perishable snacks
  • Personal ID and important documents
  • Hygiene items (wet wipes, toothbrush, etc.)
  • Flashlight
  • Cash
  • A seven-day supply of medications
  • First-aid kit
  • Face masks and gloves
  • Sleeping gear (compact pillow and sleeping bag)
  • Extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
  • Portable cell phone charger

Ensure your hurricane preparedness checklist includes go-bags for essential workers to include:

  • Copies of important documents
  • Notepad and pencil
  • Laptop/tablet and charger
  • Hard hat and reflective gear
  • Extra work clothes and footwear
  • Headlamp 
  • Copies of facility access credentials and ID
  • Extra battery packs
  • Work gloves

Tips for Stocking and Rotating Emergency Supplies

Stockpiling emergency supplies in bulk is crucial for business continuity during disasters. Proper organization and inventory management ensure that supplies remain accessible when needed. 

Keep supplies well-organized and labeled for easy access, using color-coded bins and storing items in multiple locations. Check supplies every six months to replace any expired items. If your business has multiple offices, use an inventory management system and assign managers to monitor and restock supplies.

What Not to Do During a Hurricane

Hurricanes are unpredictable and dangerous, and businesses often make mistakes that put employees, facilities, and operations at risk. Here’s a list of common mistakes to avoid:

  • Ignoring evacuation orders: Don’t delay or refuse to evacuate. Even if your building is sturdy, wind, storm surge, and flooding can make roads impassable, stranding employees.
  • Going outside during the storm: Stay sheltered until official sources confirm the storm has fully passed. Just because the wind has stopped, winds can quickly return as the eye of the hurricane passes.
  • Relying only on smartphones for communication: Cell towers can be damaged in hurricanes. Keep battery-powered or hand-crank radios for emergency updates.
  • Failing to secure outdoor objects: Strong winds can turn unsecured objects into projectiles that damage property and cause injury. 
  • Running out of fuel for generators or vehicles: Don’t wait until the last minute to get gas. Fill up generators and fuel tanks before the storm,
  • Failing to back up important business data: Storing data only on office computers risks loss from power surges, floods, or physical damage. Backup data to the cloud and external drives before a storm.
  • Forgetting to account for employee needs: Avoid the mistake of not having an employee communication plan or emergency shelter strategy. Confusion can delay responses and endanger employees.
  • Resuming business operations too soon: Even after the storm ends, risks like flooding, downed power lines, and structural damage remain. Follow official guidance before returning to your business and inspect everything to ensure safety for reopening.

Hurricane Preparedness for Specialized Facilities

Hospitals, temporary shelters, command centers, and critical infrastructure need advanced planning and targeted strategies for resilience during hurricanes. These facilities serve essential roles during and after storms, making continuity of operations, resource allocation, and safety top priorities.

Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals must remain operational before, during, and after hurricanes to care for patients and handle medical emergencies. Key considerations include:

  • Maintain back up power (testing and fueling generators to ensure they run for at least 96 hours).
  • Develop patient evacuation plans and ensure transportation coordination with emergency services. 
  • Maintain a one-week supply of essential medications, oxygen, IV fluids, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Secure an alternative clean water source for patient care and sanitation needs.
  • Prepare for influxes of injured individuals post-storm.

Acuity has experience in medical facility risk mitigation, including emergency power solutions and infrastructure reinforcement to maintain hospital operations.

Temporary Shelters and Evacuation Centers

Shelters provide refuge for evacuated residents, displaced families, and vulnerable populations during hurricanes. Key considerations include: 

  • Plan for high occupancy and ensure sufficient room and airflow.
  • Stockpile hygiene kits, disinfectants, and masks, and establish infection control protocols.
  • Maintain at least three days’ worth of non-perishable food and one gallon of water per person per day.
  • Provide accommodations for elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and pets.
  • Assign trained personnel to prevent conflicts and ensure orderly operations.

Acuity has worked with emergency response teams to optimize shelter logistics, including food distribution and security planning.

Command Centers and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs)

Command centers coordinate disaster response, communications, and resource allocation for government agencies, businesses, and emergency responders. Key considerations include:

  • Use satellite phones, two-way radios, and backup internet to stay connected.
  • Deploy dual generators and solar backup solutions.
  • Utilize weather tracking software and GIS mapping for decision-making.
  • Ensure emergency staff have adequate rest, food, and security.
  • Establish predefined communication protocols between government agencies, first responders, and private entities.

Acuity has supported command centers with data security, emergency power resilience, and risk assessment strategies to maintain functionality in disasters.

Read too: What Role Does The Government Play During A Natural Disaster

Critical Infrastructure

Power plants, water treatment facilities, and transportation hubs must remain resilient to prevent cascading failures that impact entire communities. Key considerations include: 

  • Reinforce power grids, substations, and pumping stations against wind and flooding.
  • Deploy storm barriers, sump pumps, and drainage improvements.
  • Pre-position essential staff, housing, and supplies for rapid post-storm recovery.
  • Secure fuel, repair equipment, and replacement parts in advance.
  • Protect SCADA systems and control networks from power surges and cyber threats.

Acuity has worked with critical infrastructure providers to develop emergency contingency plans and rapid-response protocols for utilities and transit systems.

Supporting Staff and Communities During Recovery

After a hurricane, recovery is as crucial as preparedness. Businesses play a key role in supporting employees and restoring operations. A structured recovery plan aids in a faster and more compassionate return to normalcy. 

  • Conduct wellness checks to assess employees’ physical and emotional needs.
  • Offer counseling to help manage stress and trauma. 
  • Ensure access to essential resources like financial aid, food, water, transportation, and childcare.
  • Organize employee-led volunteer efforts for debris removal and shelter assistance. Partner with FEMA, the Red Cross, or local organizations to amplify relief efforts.

Acuity has extensive experience in humanitarian aid and community rebuilding and plays a key role in restoring stability after disasters. We collaborate with businesses and response teams to create employee support programs focused on mental health and long-term recovery. Additionally, we’ve set up rapid-response supply hubs and mobile resource centers to provide affected employees with immediate access to essential resources.