[batten] down the hatches

to get ready for trouble, difficulty, or danger

The idiom "batten down the hatches" has its origins in maritime terminology. "Hatches" are the openings in the deck of a ship that provide access to the lower levels. "Battening down" means to secure the hatches with wooden strips or battens to prevent water from entering the ship during a storm. Figuratively, this expression is used to mean preparing for a difficult or challenging situation, taking precautions, or getting ready for an upcoming storm or crisis.

With a hurricane approaching, the residents were advised to batten down the hatches and prepare for the worst.
Before the major product launch, the team needed to batten down the hatches and ensure everything was in order.
Knowing that a challenging project was ahead, they decided to batten down the hatches and create a detailed plan.
In the face of an economic downturn, the company needed to batten down the hatches to weather the financial storm.
When faced with a family crisis, they knew it was time to batten down the hatches and support each other.