When fleets fail to prepare for hurricanes, the cost is more than damage it’s prolonged downtime, stranded assets, and broken schedules. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season in 2025, estimating 13-18 named storms with 5-9 of them becoming hurricanes, and 2-5 major storms (AOML Communications, 2025). Without proactive strategies, fleets along vulnerable coasts are especially at risk of being caught off guard.

Hurricanes and tropical cyclones also produce storm surge, flooding, wind damage, and power outages. The Federal Emergency Management Agency underscores that timely evacuation, securing property, and staging critical resources are essential elements of disaster resilience (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2024). Fleets that ignore these preparatory steps often see vehicles submerged, fueling systems compromised, or equipment damaged, leading to days or weeks of operational disruption.

Transportation infrastructure is vulnerable too. The U.S. Department of Transportation emphasizes the need to integrate extreme weather resilience into planning, including for logistics and fleet operations, so that storms do not incapacitate supply chains (Federal Highway Administration, 2025). Overlooked prep means access routes are blocked, traffic networks are disrupted, and alternative routing is unavailable.

OSHA’s role in emergency preparedness also applies. The agency provides guidance on how workplaces should prepare for disasters, including hazard identification, evacuation planning, and protecting workers during extreme weather events (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2025). Fleet operations must include worker safety during severe storms not just asset protection.

At Key Safety LLC, we help fleets close these gaps. Our Document Development for Start-up Projectsincorporates storm-ready procedures tailored for vehicles, facilities, and personnel. Through Service on Demand, we conduct pre-storm audits, check fuel and cargo staging, and run hurricane drills. Our Regular Consultation Servicerevisits plans annually with NOAA outlook input to verify readiness.

Downtime from overlooked hurricane prep is preventable. Preparation accelerates recovery, ensures continuity, and preserves trust with clients when storms strike.

References

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2024, August 27). Hurricane, wind & water surge hazards: Hurricane preparedness and evacuation planning. https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/hurricanes

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Communications. (2025, June 2). 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook. NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/2025-atlantic-hurricane-season-outlook/

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2025, October 1). Emergency preparedness and response. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness

Federal Highway Administration. (2025, April 5). Order – Subject: Transportation System Preparedness and Resilience to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://highways.dot.gov/media/61011