Hurricane seasons pose a unique risk to heavy equipment. While this risk might be an afterthought, it’s extremely important to keep it in mind during hurricane season.
Construction and municipal fleets are at extreme risk during big storms. Flooding, wind debris, or salt spray can cause costly damage to exposed fleets. Stay prepared with our pre-hurricane season checklist for heavy equipment.
Atlantic hurricane season normally ranges from June 1 through the end of November. The peak threat period is from August to October. This three-month threat period could cause severe damage to your fleet.
Familiarize yourself with the risks before it’s too late. Storm surges could flood your equipment. Wind damage could cause a rollover, tip-over, or launch debris at your machine. Whether your equipment is parked or you are operating in a storm, leaving your machine exposed puts it at risk.
Before disaster strikes, follow this thorough inspection checklist.
Check fluid levels. Engine oil, hydraulic fluid, coolant, and DEF are all at risk. Top off or replace fluids.
Check filter status. Replace air, fuel, hydraulic, and DEF filters before a storm if they are within 25% of their service interval.
Prime battery and charging systems. After a storm, systems may experience a surge. Fully charge your systems so they can survive these power spikes.
Inspect hoses, seals, and undercarriages. Pre-existing wear quickly becomes a failure point under strain.
Fill fuel tank. By filling your tank up before a storm, you eliminate the risk of condensation in your tank. Condensation can cause engine damage during a storm when you need your machine at peak performance.
When preparing for a storm it’s important to think about machine storage. Where you position your machine can determine if it’s a liability during a hurricane.
Elevate your machine. Don’t park in flood plains, low-lying lots, or near drainage channels. If you can store your machine inside a structurally sound building, do so. If you can’t, make sure it is out of the way of potentially falling trees or structures.
Secure attachments and implementations. The best way to secure any attachment is to lower it to the ground so it doesn’t drop or swing. Secure attachments to heaver equipment and group smaller equipment behind bigger machines to protect against strong winds.
Protect your cab. Secure glass windows to prevent breakage from flying debris. Seal or cover external HVAC vents. Place caps or covers over the exhaust stack to keep water out of the engine. Ignoring this tip could result in engine failure.
Before returning to work, check for visual damage. Check for water intrusion in your fuel, hydraulic reservoir, and air intake system. All mud and debris should be removed from the undercarriage, cooling package, and DEF system.
Use S·O·S™ fluid sampling as a fast-track method to confirm fluid integrity before resuming operations. Call Yancey today if you have any questions on how fluid sampling can protect your equipment.
Make sure critical machinery is ready for immediate deployment and positioned safely before the storm approaches. Tag motor graders, wheel loaders, and utility equipment needed for immediate post-storm debris clearance.
Coordinate with Yancey with priority parts and emergency services prior to disaster.
Yancey helps heavy equipment owners prepare for severe weather by building custom, pre-season preventative maintenance kits. When a storm approaches, you can quickly access essential filters, fluids, and critical wear items through your dedicated parts representative.
Once the storm passes, Yancey’s rapid service network deploys across Georgia for urgent, post-storm field repairs to ensure your machinery is safe to operate after severe weather. Yancey also provides advanced S·O·S™ fluid analysis to check for hidden system contamination and verify overall equipment health.
Don’t wait for a named storm, start your pre-season prep now. Contact Yancey to schedule your pre-hurricane PMs.
