September marks National Preparedness Month and serves as a reminder that timely preparation for natural disasters will help keep communities and families safe. Community associations should adopt comprehensive plans to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. They also should educate their homeowners.
Community associations need to tread carefully when it comes to security. Employing various security measures and creating a perception of security could make communities liable if a crime occurs. What should associations do to minimize liability?
Disaster recovery efforts can be complicated even without a challenging insurance market. Valencia on the Gulf, a condominium community nestled on the normally picturesque beach in Venice, Fla., was among the many neighborhoods that got hammered by Hurricane Ian. Under the leadership of its community manager, Valencia is well on its way to recovery.
Community association board members and managers frequently practice diffusing tension and communicating clearly. Today, they also need to prepare safety and security plans in the event of hostile and dangerous behavior. Though worst-case scenarios are rare, in an increasingly uncertain climate, a renewed focus has been placed on safeguarding residents, volunteers, and employees.
The past few weeks have brought multiple natural disasters to several parts of the U.S. Last week, tropical storm Hilary’s unprecedented landfall brought powerful winds and heavy rains, reminding community association leaders to evaluate their disaster preparations.
