Community associations should adopt comprehensive disaster preparedness plans to respond to and recover from hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. September marks National Preparedness Month and serves as a reminder that timely preparation for natural disasters will help keep communities and families safe.
Communities should be prepared for the possibility of natural disasters regardless of what’s been predicted. For example, forecasters expected a very active hurricane season, but until Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm earlier this week, this year had seen the longest stretch in more than half a century without a single late-summer cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico, according to The Washington Post. As residents of Louisiana and Mississippi clean up from the winds and flooding delivered by Francine, the National Hurricane Center is tracking four potential storms — a sign that an otherwise quiet hurricane season may be picking up.
Community plans should 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.
Communities also should educate their homeowners. Here are a few steps to consider sharing:
Hurricanes
- Gather supplies in an emergency kit to last at least three days, including food, water, flashlights, batteries, cash, first aid supplies, and medications.
- Gather supplies for pets, if any.
- Store important documents.
- Bring inside loose, lightweight objects that could become projectiles in high winds (e.g., patio furniture, garbage cans) and anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside (e.g., propane tanks).
- Take refuge in a designated storm shelter or in a secure room inside your home that is windowless and not at risk of flooding.
- Cover windows with wooden panels or storm shutters.
- Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.
Floods
- Know the types of flood risks in your area by visiting FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
- Purchase or renew a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding.
- Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.
- Protect your property by move valuables to higher levels, decluttering drains and gutters, installing check valves, and considering a sump pump with a battery.
- Go to your home’s highest level if surrounded by rising floodwater. Do not climb into a closed attic, as you may become trapped. Go on the roof only if necessary and signal for help.
Wildfires
- Fireproof your home by covering outdoor vents, removing dry leaf and tree debris, mowing and watering lawns regularly, and using fire-resistant materials to make repairs or replacements.
- Keep fuel sources at least 100 feet away from your home.
- Keep important documents in a fireproof safe and make digital copies.
- Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. Close all doors and windows. Set up a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low when smoky conditions exist.
- Review insurance coverage to make sure it is enough to replace your property. Document damage with photographs.
>>More disaster preparedness tips for community associations can be found in the Foundation for Community Association Research’s Best Practices Report: Natural Disasters and in CAI’s Natural Disasters: How Community Associations Protect Themselves.
