HURRICANE TIPS & INFORMATION
a special thank you to the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association and
the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers for most of this information

Long before the storm

Make sure the nursery infrastructure is in good maintenance. Clear ditches free of weeds and debris so maximum drainage can occur. Make sure your interior roads are in good repair to allow access to all areas of the nursery.

Make sure all buildings are in good repair. Make sure all windows, doors, siding and roofing are secured according to building codes. Once wind gets under loose building materials, they will rip off. If you have portable sheds and trailers, tie them down securely. Evaluate whether you should remove covering of greenhouses and shade structures prior to a storm. Is it better to let the roofs and sides be torn off or allow for less resistance? Each grower must make his/her own decisions. Prior to a storm, inventory whether you have sufficient materials to minimally repair facilities.

Make sure all equipment is serviced and adequate supplies are on hand. For days to weeks after a hurricane, normal deliveries may be disrupted. Make sure you have fuel and other supplies you may need. Consider having minimal building materials on hand to repair structures. Evaluate all your potential needs. Make sure you have a supply of potting soil, fungicides, etc.

Make arrangements for power. Power lines may be disabled for days or weeks jeopardizing your irrigation systems. Develop a plan for irrigation, running office functions, running propagation areas, etc.

Make sure you have crop insurance. Crop insurance is a requirement to participate in any federal disaster programs. You must sign up for the program well before a storm threatens, because there is a 30 day hold.