I want to start by wishing the best to everyone affected by Hurricane Idalia. This was a powerful storm that had serious impacts across multiple states in the Southeast. The recovery process is going to take a long time for many communities and golf courses. Unfortunately, peak hurricane season is now on our doorstep. Whether your golf course is located along the coast or farther inland, it can be susceptible to the impacts of storms like Idalia. Taking the initiative and having practical measures in place to minimize damage from an approaching hurricane or tropical system is crucial.
Preparedness
Be ready for a storm before you know exactly how it will affect your area. Careful planning and designating an emergency preparedness team will help reduce potential losses. At minimum, you should understand the risks your facility typically faces during these events and know the basic steps you plan to take. Think through as many key questions as possible long before a hurricane is bearing down. Do you have staff living on-site that should leave before a storm hits? Do you experience flooding from major storms? Is there high ground you can move at-risk equipment to? Can you do anything to prepare for an extended disruption of normal maintenance? Do you have a way to water critical areas or wash off silt if your irrigation system is damaged? You will not be able to plan for everything a major storm throws at you, but thinking through the basics will help ensure that your staff is safe and your response after the storm is as effective as possible. Here are a few key points to keep in mind on preparedness:
Prepare a likely timeline of storm impacts and monitor storm warnings closely.
Develop and communicate an employee safety plan.
Take inventory of equipment and insured assets with photographs before and after the storm.
Move equipment to the safest location available.
Shut down the irrigation system and protect any components you can.
Secure all rental equipment and contractor needs for recovery.
Response and Recovery
Once a storm has passed, it is time for response and recovery. First, check in with your staff to understand how they have been affected and if you or your facility can help. When it is safe, check on the course. Prioritize safety and wait for local authorities to give the green light before returning. It is tempting to run back out to the course once a storm passes, but there are many dangers in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane or major storm, so be careful. Once you can safely assess the situation, communicate with key stakeholders at your facility and begin putting your disaster response plan into action. A well-prepared plan can significantly aid in the recovery process and will help your course get back on its feet as soon as possible. Every facility will have a unique plan or checklist tailored to their specific needs during this challenging time. However, there are some common checklist items that will help any plan succeed after a storm:
Maintain constant communication with facility decision-makers, employees and vendors.
Plan for staff to safely return to the site. Recognize that they will be dealing with storm-related issues of their own, so some of them may not be immediately available.
Prepare an extensive cleanup plan.
Address insurance, loss and replacement issues promptly.
Request government cleanup assistance where available.
In the face of hurricane season, ensuring the preparedness and protection of your golf course is essential. By adhering to the principles outlined above and tailoring them to your facility's unique needs, your golf course can weather the storms and emerge resilient. Watch the USGA Green Section video “One Year After Hurricane Harvey: Lakeside Country Club” to learn from one course’s experience following severe hurricane impacts.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
John Rowland, Ph.D., agronomist – jrowland@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org