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Stay Ahead of the Storm: Proactive Strategies to Prepare Your Building for Hurricane Season

JOBS-AMST Admin | May 06, 2025

As hurricanes grow in both frequency and intensity, commercial and residential properties face increasing threats from high winds, flooding, and structural failure. Hurricane preparedness for businesses is no longer optional — it’s essential. In 2024 alone, the Atlantic hurricane season delivered unprecedented damage, with Hurricane Helene becoming the third-costliest storm on record at $78.7 billion, devastating Florida, Georgia, and parts of the mid-Atlantic. Hurricane Milton added another $34.3 billion in losses.

For property managers, building owners, and engineering professionals, these figures are a wake-up call. Preparing now can drastically reduce storm-related damage, protect building envelopes, and ensure occupant safety. This article outlines proactive strategies, backed by data-driven forecasts and industry insights, to help fortify buildings ahead of the 2025 hurricane season.

2025 Hurricane Season: What to Expect and Why It Matters

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, running from June 1 to November 30, is projected to be more active than usual, putting building professionals across the Southeast and Gulf Coast on high alert. Now is the time to implement proactive strategies that protect building envelopes, minimize storm damage, and prioritize occupant safety.

2025 Forecast Snapshot

With nearly all major forecasting agencies projecting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2025, hurricane preparedness for businesses and commercial properties must become a top operational priority. Tropical Storm Risk anticipates 15 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, while AccuWeather expects 13-18 named systems, including up to five Category 3 or higher. Global Weather Oscillations echoes similar concerns, predicting 16 storms and at least two U.S. landfalls, particularly impacting coastal hubs like Texas, Louisiana, and the Carolinas. The driving forces behind these projections include neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) patterns, a continued warm phase of the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO), and persistently warm sea surface temperatures.

Every major outlet forecasts heightened activity compared to the 30-year average of 14 named storms. For building owners, this translates into an urgent need to secure hurricane buildings through envelope reinforcements, waterproofing, and impact-resistant upgrades. Proactive inspection of roofing systems, façade anchors, and window protections can significantly reduce storm-related damage and mitigate the need for hurricane commercial damage restoration. Leveraging data-driven insights to evaluate site-specific vulnerabilities ensures occupant safety and long-term asset resilience. By investing in resilient infrastructure now, businesses can minimize disruption, lower insurance risks, and maintain operational continuity throughout the volatile season ahead.

Risk Areas and Building Vulnerabilities

Not every storm makes the headlines — but if you own property near the coast, you already know the damage they leave behind can reshape entire buildings, block by block. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that major hurricanes (Category 3 and above) are more likely to impact coastal regions, and the frequency of such events is higher within 50 nautical miles (approximately 58 statute miles) of the coast, making façade resilience and drainage design critical in high-risk zones. These areas often experience failures in the building envelope, especially around windows, joints, and caulking, long before winds reach catastrophic speeds. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, Miami properties saw water seep through window systems rated for 150 mph winds at just 58 mph.

It’s a stark reminder that water resistance, not just structural integrity, needs to be a top priority. Similarly, Hurricane Andrew in 1992 exposed how poor code enforcement and subpar workmanship can lead to roughly $4 billion in insurance losses, further emphasizing the need for thorough preseason assessments. For building owners and managers, the lesson is clear — prepare your properties now, or risk costly, avoidable damage later. With 2025 storm forecasts leaning toward more intense activity, the time to reinforce vulnerable façades, check drainage systems, and implement a detailed hurricane response plan is before the skies turn gray.

How to Prepare Your Building for Hurricane Season

Property managers, owners, and engineers must take proactive measures to fortify building envelopes, minimize storm-related damage, and prioritize occupant safety. These preventative steps not only reduce liability but also help avoid costly post-storm repairs.

Conduct Building Envelope Assessments

Conducting a thorough building façade assessment is a vital first step in preparing for hurricane season. Using our self-assessment tool, property teams can inspect critical areas like façades, joints, flashing, and sealants to identify early signs of failure, such as cracks, window leaks, or deteriorating expansion joints. Documenting these issues before a storm hits allows for timely repairs and reinforcements, significantly reducing the risk of costly damage. A preseason assessment can be the difference between minor maintenance and major post-storm recovery.

Implement a Pre-Storm Action Plan

Implementing a pre-storm action plan is one of the most effective ways to prepare your building for hurricane season. A checklist-driven approach ensures no critical task is overlooked — securing outdoor items, trimming overgrown trees, boarding windows, sandbagging entry points, and clearing drainage systems all help minimize storm-related damage. Emergency readiness should also include testing backup generators, training staff, and keeping access routes open.

Equally vital is scheduling contractors early; after major storms, demand surges can inflate construction costs by 15% to 30% and delay recovery by up to a year. Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, searches for steel buildings rose 1,700%, while plywood and drywall inquiries spiked 400%. A proactive assessment of façades, joints, and sealants — along with early documentation of weaknesses — can significantly reduce costly post-storm repairs.

How ProXpress Can Help Before and After the Storm

Our ProXpress division delivers rapid, expert support for property managers. From pre-storm prep to post-storm recovery, ProXpress minimizes downtime and keeps your building safe, secure, and fully operational when it matters most.

Rapid Leak Repair Services
When joints fail or cracks appear in your building envelope, ProXpress delivers fast, targeted repairs using professional-grade sealants, caulking, and repellents to stop leaks before they worsen.
Pre-Storm Protection Services
Before a hurricane strikes, our ProXpress crew can board windows, secure loose materials, and sandbag vulnerable access points — mitigating damage from high winds and flooding.
Vegetation Management
Overgrown trees and shrubs are trimmed to prevent broken branches from damaging roofs, windows, and façades — one of the most overlooked storm risks.
Post-Storm Debris and Tarping Services
Right after a storm, ProXpress deploys to clear debris, lay protective tarps, and isolate new leaks — helping prevent costly interior damage.
Façade Assessment Tools and On-Site Investigations
Our experts conduct in-depth inspections and photo-documented assessments, providing insight into structural damage and next-step repair recommendations.

Mitigate Hurricane Season’s Impact with the Right Partner

With forecasters predicting an intense 2025 hurricane season, building owners and property managers must act now to minimize risk and disruption. Our ProXpress division specializes in hurricane preparation, repair, and clean-up services designed specifically for severe weather events. Services include leak investigation, water infiltration testing and repair, emergency façade repair, cracked or broken window repair, and more.

Backed by decades of expertise, our ProXpress division helps you act quickly and confidently before, during, and after the storm. Don’t wait until it’s too late — partner with us to create a tailored hurricane preparedness plan that protects your property and the people inside.