lacking. Delays in insurance payments, road and bridge reconstruction was a slow process. Te aftermath created a huge bottleneck in the supply chain,” Brown recalled.
But reconstruction across Florida began and as supply and logistics returned online, so did the demand for turfgrass and orders resumed. Ten, reconstruction and repairs to residential homes, multifamily condominiums, and commercial sites started going back up. Brown said to complicate things, 2024 brought five named storms to the state of Florida, meaning many properties that had just completed reconstruction after Ian were hit again. Te west coast of Florida was hit pretty bad last year, but this spring, most are back online with landscaping their final step for completion. He said the result has been one of the strongest turfgrass markets he’s seen in many years.
As a result of the storms he’s witnessed and their impact on farms, Brown had some tips for developing a plan. It’s important to know who, what, when, and how you will plan and respond. Below is a list of tips he suggests for farms to prepare for a storm. Brown explained this list is a good starting point and more should be added to fit each farm’s specific operation.
Jonathan Brown’s Hurricane Prep Checklist for Sod Farms: Make sure all your insurance documents are together, safe, and secure.
Call your insurance agent and make sure you have proper coverage. Let them know you will be contacting them as soon as the storm passes.
Take pictures of anything and everything covered as well as not covered by insurance.
When you build your storm/hurricane plan, make sure you include who is responsible for each set of tasks, when to take action and a detailed description of the task.
Move your equipment to the highest, biggest, open field you have. Put the lightest equipment in the middle and circle the wagons, so to speak, with the heaviest equipment you have.
Tere is a right way and a wrong way to tie down your pivots and linear irrigation. Get with your irrigation supplier and do it properly for each unit. Tey vary on how to tie them down. Make a kit for each unit: tiedowns, if you don’t have permanent anchors, ratchet straps, etc.
Consider purchasing a generator for your office. Computers, printers, and electronics on top of the desks covered by garbage bags. Preset a meeting place and time, in case communications go down.
Make sure you have your standard home hurricane supply kit. You can find the list on the NOAA Hurricane Preparedness website:
www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
Secure roll-up doors by placing mini bulk containers filled with water up tight against the outside of the doors. Be sure to slide locks on the bottom of the doors into locked positions.
Tie down or bring any loose items inside your shop or enclosed barn. Lessons Learned and Long-Term Strategies
Despite the challenges, many sod farms have bounced back stronger after disasters. Many farms now prioritize long-term strategies such as diversifying grass varieties, improving field slopes, and building better water management systems.
In some cases, farms partner with local emergency agencies to provide turfgrass for erosion control and rebuilding efforts. It’s a reminder that even in loss, sod producers play a vital role in helping their communities recover. As climate change intensifies weather patterns, sod farms will continue adapting. From investing in more resilient varieties to strengthening supply chains, growers are finding ways to stay ahead of the storm.
Erin Wilder is Director of Business & Professional Development for Sod Solutions Professionals. Cecilia Johnson is Media and Content Manager at Sod Solutions. The Charleston, SC, company has spent over 30 years developing and releasing leading turfgrass
varieties.All photos courtesy of Sod Solutions.
84 TPI Turf News July/August 2025 202
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