Hurricane Season 2020: Before, During, and After the Storm
According to The Weather Channel's forecast, the 2020 Hurricane Season will be "more active than usual." And as we can see with Hurricanes Laura and Marco, it's no surprise! Therefore, equip your community to respond to anything effectively and efficiently. Condominium Associates is your property management provider here to help you and your HOA prepare for a disaster that is not easy to predict.
Be Ready for Adverse Weather Conditions this Season
Be ready for any weather forecast because the Weather Channel expects the season to be more active than last year, which means residents along the coastal U.S. That's us!
For homeowners associations in Florida, this means reviewing current emergency preparedness procedures. The procedures should include what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. You need to know the supplies to have in emergency kits, and whom to contact in the immediate aftermath.
Standard features of a hurricane plan include, but are not limited to:
Emergency contact information
Responsibilities of the board, management, and residents
A list of services unavailable during and after a hurricane.
More specifically, this plan should have several checklists, including those that cover:
Actions for the community's incident commander
Tasks that residents should complete before they evacuate
Pre-storm and post-storm communications
Post-storm grounds survey and cleanup
Post-storm inspection of residential units
The plan should also have a prepared notice advising residents of an impending hurricane and the risks of staying, a form to be filled out by residents who decide to stay, and what residents should know about the association's insurance coverage and reserve funds.
Adopt and Share the Community Emergency Plan
Experts such as the local police chief and presented to and approved by the association's board should review a community's emergency plan. Once the program receives final approval, the staff should implement timelines and responsibility charts. Also, they provide residents with information about the procedures. By doing this, they can act accordingly when necessary. Conducting drills regularly for practice is smart.
Create a Relief Organization List
HOAs should make a relief organization list to include local and national level helplines that residents can reach. This list should also have a detailed process to seek aid and debris removal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Maintaining communication is critical during and after the immediate danger has passed. Determine which residents or board members will be on call in the event of an emergency. Also, be sure to identify any ham radio operators in the community or the immediate area if cell towers are rendered inoperable.
Advise on Mitigation Activity
Each year the number of natural disasters increases, yet only half of the impacted communities qualify for federal assistance. Mitigation activity can help communities reduce infrastructure damage and minimize recovery time after a disaster. HOAs seeking to reduce disaster impact should follow these three types of mitigation activity:
Identify hazards and assess vulnerabilities
Advance action to minimize damage to infrastructure
Use and share Mitigation Best Practices
Contact Us
Condominium Associates is here to help you manage these uncertain times. Get in touch. We are more than happy to assist you in devising a solid emergency plan for your HOA.