As a leader in your community, your residents and association look to you to take the necessary precautions to protect their safety and property. With hurricanes and tropical storms being a regular feature in South Florida, especially at this time of the year, you should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. It is no secret that the potential for damages are great and the most challenging task will be to come with and effective Hurricane Preparedness plan and minimize the effects of a disaster in your community.
According to AAA, one-third of Floridians are not prepared for a hurricane. Given the recent unexpected and extreme weather evidently tied to global warming, this is a concerning number. “It’s been since 1851 there’s been a string of 10 years without a cat 3 hurricane hitting Florida. So under those circumstances, you forget,” said Citizens Property Insurance CEO Barry Gillway.
The best option regarding Hurricane Preparedness is being cautious. It will make you save money and safeguard your property so take note of the following.
8 Tips You Should Consider About Hurricane Preparedness
- Increased humidity makes metal water pipes more likely to corrode. It may cause them to burst and flood your property. Keep your building cool and air-conditioned to circulate the air and reduce humidity.
- Make regular tests on your generators to ensure they are working properly.
- Documentation of your property (notes, videos, pictures) prior to damages, will facilitate damage assessment with your insurance company.
- Establish set protocols in the event of an emergency. Define a clearly chain of command if you are not in the office.
- Communication is crucial: Stay alert of the last weather updates and emergency procedures. Keep your residents informed of every aspect and have a list with the most important contacts you might need after a disaster.
- Make a list of approved vendors. Your team should be on the same page on who to call if an emergency were to occur. Be sure to verify insurance as some companies may not be insured to work in buildings higher than 3 floors.
- Have cash available. After a hurricane, many businesses will be without power and you will need it to purchase essential items. Reconsider your
- Emergency training on a yearly basis is key as to remind your staff and educate any new team members. The Water Restoration Group offers FREE Emergency Training for your team at your location.
As high rise restoration specialists, we have witnessed Property Managers and their tenants several unfortunate situations that could have been avoided.
Even though these recommendations don’t guarantee that your property won’t suffer any damage, it will definitely help you create a Hurricane Preparedness strategy and ensure your community a smooth passage, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
