Whether it’s repairing storm-damaged infrastructure, implementing climate-resilient design solutions, or crafting site-specific contingency plans, PCL is a trusted partner in hurricane preparedness, emergency response and recovery.

Here’s a look at four ways PCL helps clients and communities prepare for and recover from hurricanes.

PCL places a strong emphasis on keeping hurricane preparation and safety plans up to date, clearly communicated and ready to deploy. The company actively seeks feedback from employees, clients and stakeholders to ensure its practices continue to evolve, using lessons from past storms. 

Project-specific emergency plans may include actions such as securing equipment, relocating elevators to higher floors to avoid flood zones, and identifying key local contacts, including subcontractors, fire department non-emergency lines and utility providers so they can be reached quickly if needed.

Thomas Smith is a PCL project manager who led repair efforts at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. PCL was nearing completion of a major renovation in 2022 when Hurricane Ian hit the property. 

He says the team put in place PCL’s step-by-step hurricane preparedness process, several days before the storm made landfall.

“As the hurricane approaches, you go through a countdown — one week out, three days out, two days out, 24 hours out,” says Smith. “The key throughout this process is having a plan in place. We start with our proven template and then tailor it to the specific needs of the local project.”

While each project varies in the specifics, PCL’s hurricane preparedness template contains certain steps that remain the same:

One Week Before Expected Storm Arrival
Crews begin identifying scopes of work that need to be expedited or can be postponed. A site assessment is conducted to pinpoint items vulnerable to wind or flooding. A mitigation plan is initiated to either secure or remove these items from the site.

72 Hours Before the Storm
Crews confirm that emergency contact information is current. Erosion control measures are verified, and all equipment and materials requiring tie-downs are secured. Backup pumps and generators are inspected to ensure they are fully operational.

48 Hours Before the Storm
Hazardous materials are checked to ensure they are properly contained and will not contaminate water sources. Fencing screens and signs are dismantled and safely stored.

24 Hours Before the Storm
All computers in the job site trailer are backed up and relocated to higher ground, away from windows and potential flood zones. Windows are secured, and any remaining unsecured materials and equipment are tied down. Utilities — including power, water, and gas — are shut off. PCL employees and site crews are released early to allow time to secure their personal properties.

While the hurricane ultimately caused significant damage to The Ritz-Carlton property, PCL’s preparation and post-storm emergency response enabled the team to get back to work quickly and ultimately deliver a high-quality project.

After a storm, the immediate focus is on ensuring a safe site so that critical utilities and infrastructure can be restored, then the rebuilding efforts accelerate. For each project impacted by a hurricane, a Damage Survey Team is formed to assess the site, document any damage, and prioritize what repairs need to be completed first based on potential for hazard or structural damage.

“During our initial evaluation after a storm, we walk the site looking for hazards, high-risk areas and overall safety,” says Colin McCabe, a project manager with PCL’s Civil Infrastructure Division out of Tampa. McCabe was part of a PCL team deployed to rebuild infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Milton, which struck Florida’s west coast in October 2024. The work included restoring multiple sea walls in the City of St. Petersburg.

“A major concern for municipalities like St. Petersburg is how infrastructure they’re responsible for — things like sea walls, power lines and utilities — impacts the public,” McCabe explains. “Our first priority is making the area safe for residents. Only then do we dive into the construction details.” This can range from simple measures like fencing off the site to more complex solutions such as installing temporary support beams to prevent further damage and hazardous situations. PCL teams also work closely with rescue crews in the area to ensure construction activities won’t impede rescue efforts. Additionally, project leadership works with Red Cross to help employees who have been impacted by the storm.

After a storm, the primary objective isn’t to resume construction — it’s to ensure the safety of project personnel and the surrounding community, and to support their return to a secure, stable environment.

Disasters affecting entire communities create an immediate spike in repair needs, putting pressure on labor availability and response capacity. The key to finding the right partner to help rebuild after a hurricane is finding a company like PCL that has long-standing relationships with local trade partners and communities. This enables teams to mobilize quickly and prioritize critical client projects. PCL also maintains strong ties with contractors who specialize in disaster recovery and reconstruction nationwide. These partners can be brought in to support local efforts when regional specialty contractors are at full capacity.

“With our resources and strong connections with trade partners across the country, we have access to a large pool of subcontractors we can call on,” says Smith. “Having our finger on the pulse of the trade partner community not only gives us an operational advantage, but it also benefits the broader community by allowing us to begin rebuilding efforts more efficiently.”

Key relationships at the client level are equally important. When Hurricane Milton caused an estimated $75 million in damage to public infrastructure, St. Petersburg city officials turned to PCL to repair damaged sea walls, despite PCL’s primary focus in the area being large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

“We were ready to respond the day after the storm,” says McCabe. “We have a strong team and great relationships with local subcontractors. I think our experience with the city gave them confidence in our ability to deliver.” Since reconstruction began in late 2024, PCL has completed three sea wall repairs, with a fourth currently underway.

By leveraging trusted relationships and a deep bench of recovery expertise, PCL ensures that when disaster strikes, communities can count on a swift and coordinated response.

Aside from rebuilding structures, truly effective hurricane recovery is about building smarter and stronger. PCL focuses on constructing facilities and infrastructure that are resilient to future storms. For buildings, this includes physically elevating critical systems like mechanical, electrical and plumbing above the floodplain (low lying areas near water that are prone to flooding during heavy precipitation) as was done during the renovation of the historic Don CeSar hotel in St. Petersburg. After Hurricane Helene caused a two-to-three-foot storm surge in September 2024, PCL completed a full renovation of the hotels’ damaged ground floor in just six months, including relocating vital systems to higher floors to prevent future flood damage.

In flood-prone areas, project teams are increasingly turning to permanent flood panels — protective barriers designed to prevent water from seeping into openings — as a frontline defense against rising waters.  When space and budget allow, PCL crews also advocate for building facilities with the ability to connect temporary backup systems, such as generators and chilled water rigs, to maintain operations when primary utilities fail.

Beyond buildings, PCL’s Civil Infrastructure Division is working proactively with the City of St. Petersburg to prevent hurricane damage before it happens. A pilot program using Swedish-designed valves helps keep high tides out of the stormwater system while allowing runoff during low tides. These corrosion-resistant valves require less maintenance and last longer than traditional alternatives. What began with 14 installations has now expanded to 91 across the city.

Partnering with local partners and embracing resilient design, PCL is helping communities not only recover from past storms but proactively prepare and adapt for those yet to come.

PCL’s emergency response efforts extend beyond construction — they focus on rebuilding communities during times of crisis.

“Our response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 proved that PCL shows up when it matters most,” says Eric Nixon, area manager for PCL’s Tampa building operations. “Success depends on strong leadership, committed teams, and deep construction knowledge, from modern techniques to lessons from past generations.”

With crews ready to work around the clock under challenging conditions, and united by a shared purpose, PCL helps communities prepare for and recover from hurricanes swiftly and safely.