A properly secured and load balanced crane won't do this. There is time, money, and math involved.
Weathervane mode is only good up to about 100 MPH. They knew it was going to be higher than that.
Save a dime, spend a dollar.
Frankly, this is where they actually needed the input and advice of the longshoreman's union.
Dock cranes get secured in severe weather ALL the time.
@Cosmichomicide This is going to happen more and more as people build and tie down stuff to current standards in order to satisfy inspectors and insurance companies -- only to learn the hard way that pre-Helene standards are now too lax.
@Cosmichomicide "Due to the nature of crane operations, though, lowering or securing a tower crane is scheduled weeks in advance and was not a feasible option within the timeframe of Hurricane Milton."
Not to be too cynical, but I guess #Milton showed them a fast way to get it dismantled