Construction crews prepare for wind, lightning

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Strong winds can become deadly fast, especially on a construction site. 

Crews on construction sites throughout the metro are monitoring weather conditions, on the lookout for high winds and lightning.

"In the event of high wind, we would typically shut down the crane,” said Matt Miller, a construction project executive with the Turner Construction Company.

Miller is referring to the tower crane being used on the Medical Office Building at the University of Kansas Health System. 

Miller said the crane doesn’t move if a storm hits. It’s designed to move with the wind.

"On this one, it’s what they call free wheel. So the boom can move in the wind so it’s not being perpendicular to the wind,” said Miller.

Miller said stored materials and trash on the rooftop are moved inside or to lower ground. 

When it comes to lightning, if strikes are seen within 10 miles of the job site, crews stop work.

"We have a horn that we use. Three horn blasts lets everybody on the site know that we need to get down and into a safe place,” said Miller.

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