Tropical Storm Ernesto is spinning up big trouble in the Caribbean. The developing storm comes on the heels of powerful Hurricane Debby, which brought widespread flooding in the Deep South and one tornado-related fatality in North Carolina. While Ernesto will unlikely impact the United States, his quickly-approaching ascent to hurricane status in the recent wake of Debby is troubling for meteorologists. Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 season, which is projected to see at least 25 named storms, far outpacing the annual average of 14. This prediction includes 12 hurricanes and six major Category 3 or higher systems. Hurricanes bring unparalleled levels of destruction regardless of intensity. Lives are lost, homes are destroyed, and survivors must contend with nightmarish reminders of the destruction for decades.
Hurricanes and Chemical Storage
In the rush of evacuations and securing vulnerable property, many business owners might overlook necessary housekeeping in the lead-up to a hurricane. Pummeling winds and surging flood waters can demolish construction sites, which are teeming with unaffixed equipment because of building industries’ temporary and transient nature. Hazardous chemicals, such as hydrocarbons, degreasers, and flammable accelerants and lubricants, can become dislodged from cordoned areas before being dashed against heavy machinery and concrete barriers, leading to catastrophic leaks and fires that can compound an already dire situation. U.S. Hazmat Rentals’ fire-rated chemical storage lockers can provide secure and compliant protection for volatile chemicals during dangerous storms and routine business operations. Our fire-rated lockers comprise quarter-inch steel paneling and solid welds, complemented by an innovative sump containment system affixed to the bottom of the locker, preventing unseen and insidious leaks.
Protecting Your Most Valuable Assets: Employees
Unlike sporadic weather events and severe storms, hurricanes give ample notice of their pending arrival. Although tropical storms might not give you the professional courtesy of a two-week notice, their trajectory is broadcast well in advance. Most jobsites become ghost towns in the days leading up to a hurricane’s landfall, but that doesn’t call for relaxed vigilance. Hurricanes are not the only dangerous weather events that threaten jobsites annually. Most construction and building projects coincide during the spring and summer – the height of tornado season. The whizzing and banging of the jobsite can distract diligent employees from the darkened storm clouds building on the horizon. The jobsite is the last place you want to be during a tornado. Towering scaffolding, loose tools, and piles of building materials can become wind-driven projectiles during a tornado, lashing out in every direction as workers scurry for safety. Sheering winds can also topple I-beams and unsecured interior walls, placing your employees in unprecedented peril.
U.S. Hazmat Rentals commercial tornado shelters can protect larger workforces from sporadic tornados and occasional thunderstorms. Most tornadoes and severe weather occur mid-afternoon as employees return from lunch. Construction sites are a perpetual “work in progress,” so employees are short on permanent shelter capable of withstanding 250-mile-per-hour winds and fallen debris. Our commercial tornado shelters can be easily located in any section of the jobsite, providing centralized and easily-accessible protection for employees during storms. Storm shelter rentals are a practical solution to a temporary problem. Why purchase a permanent tornado shelter if the job site changes in a few months? Let us do the heavy lifting for you. We can deliver and install a tornado shelter to your jobsite before coordinating the pick-up when the job is done. Shelter rentals cost a small fraction of the purchase price. That’s good news as inflation continues to slash profits. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation!
