Hurricane Season Prep: Your Building Supply Checklist

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. When a storm heads our way, building supplies disappear fast. Knowing what to stock and where to get it — before the cone of uncertainty points at us — is the difference between a quick post-storm repair and weeks of waiting on backorders.

Here’s your pre-season checklist and where to find supplies locally.

1. The Contractor’s Storm Kit

Professional contractors who respond to storm work need these supplies pre-staged before June 1:

Emergency Repair Materials

Item	Typical Need	Recommended Supplier
6 mil poly sheeting (10×100 rolls)	Temporary roof and window coverings	Phillips Building Supply — Gulfport
3/4” CDX plywood (4×8 sheets)	Boarding windows and doors	84 Lumber — Gulfport
Tarp (heavy-duty, multiple sizes)	Roof tarping — 20×30 and 30×50 most used	Hubbard’s Hardware — Gulfport/Biloxi
2×4 and 2×6 pressure-treated lumber	Temporary shoring, doorway bracing	Dufrene Building Materials — Gulfport
Cap nails and tarp fasteners	Securing tarps to roofs	True Value — Gulfport
15 lb roofing felt	Underlayment for temporary roof repair	QXO (formerly Beacon) — Gulfport
Generators (5,000-10,000 watt)	Job site power when the grid is down	EquipmentShare — Gulfport (rental)
Chainsaws and fuel	Clearing downed trees	Hubbard’s Hardware — Gulfport/Biloxi

The Golden Hour Rule

The first 24 hours after a storm is when every contractor on the coast descends on the same supply houses. If you haven’t bought it before the storm, expect bare shelves, 3-hour lines, and no delivery. Good contractors have their storm trailers packed by May 15.

2. Homeowner Prep: What to Buy Before a Storm Watch

The 5-Day Window

When a storm enters the Gulf (about 5 days from landfall), supplies start running out. Here’s the order they go:

1. Water and batteries (stores — 5 days out)
2. Plywood and generators (lumber yards — 3 days out)
3. Tarps and rope (hardware stores — 3 days out)
4. Gas cans and fuel (gas stations — 2 days out)
5. Everything else (48 hours before landfall, chaos)

By the time the National Weather Service issues a Hurricane Watch, most building supplies are gone.

Your Pre-Season Stockpile

• 4-8 sheets of 5/8” CDX plywood — precut to your window sizes, labeled, and stored in the garage
• Heavy-duty tarps (two 20×30 minimum)
• 3 tubes exterior construction adhesive
• 1 box 2-1/2” deck screws
• 1 roll 100’ paracord or 3/8” nylon rope
• 1 box construction staples
• 1 reciprocating saw with extra blades

3. Post-Storm Repair Priorities

After a storm, building inspectors and insurance adjusters prioritize by damage severity. Don’t wait for an adjuster before making emergency repairs — cover holes, dry in the structure, and document everything with photos.

What to repair immediately:

1. Roof tarps — Every hour a roof is open, water damage spreads.
2. Window coverings — Plywood any broken windows. Wet interiors lead to mold in 24-48 hours.
3. Fence temporary repairs — A downed fence leaves your property open.
4. Tree removal from structures — Call a professional with a crane.

Who to call:

Service	Find on SupplyMatchMS
Roofing contractor	Browse Roofing Suppliers
Tree service / equipment rental	Browse Equipment Rentals
Dumpster rental (debris collection)	Coastal Elite Dumpsters
Portable restroom (cleanup crews)	Southern OnSite Services

4. Ready-Mix Concrete After a Storm

After hurricanes, there’s always a run on concrete for new footings, foundations, and slab repairs.

Gulf Coast concrete suppliers for post-storm work:

• American Ready Mix — Gulfport and Biloxi plants
• MMC Materials Gulf Coast — Formerly Bayou Concrete, serving since 1927
• Gulf States Ready Mix — Multiple locations

Pro tip: All three suppliers can get overwhelmed after a major storm. Pre-order as early as possible and budget for longer lead times.

5. Long-Term Hurricane Hardening

• Impact-rated windows and doors — eliminates boarding up forever
• Metal roofing — outlasts shingles 3:1 in hurricane conditions
• Standing seam metal — best wind rating of any roofing material
• Hurricane clips and straps — retrofit existing roof-to-wall connections
• Elevated HVAC and electrical — prevents flood damage in low-lying areas

Gulfport roofing suppliers:

• QXO (formerly Beacon) — Gulfport: Full line of standing seam and metal roofing
• Gulfeagle Supply — Gulfport: Metal roof panels and accessories