Nearly 200 advocates participated in 145 congressional meetings during the CAI 2025 Congressional Advocacy Summit in Washington last week. Wendy Bucknum met with Rep. Young Kim and urged her to extend Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to community associations following a natural disaster.
Implementing a disaster preparedness plan early on can limit property loss, reduce risks, and speed the association’s recovery. Planning in advance can strengthen a community association’s ability to mitigate risk and alleviates some of the unnecessary chaos that comes with an emergency.
In the wake of the devastating Texas floods that ravaged Kerr County and parts of the Texas Hill Country in July, the Paloma Lake community and FirstService Residential sprang into action to help. While none of our residents or communities sustained direct damage, in moments like these, we are all neighbors.
Natural disasters are occurring more frequently — and more violently than ever before. Community associations caught in the path of extreme weather find the devastation lingers long after the storm has passed. Although it is not possible for associations to insulate themselves completely from catastrophic weather, there are lessons to be gleamed from those who have been hit that could help mitigate loss and protect owners’ investments.
When a crisis strikes a community association — whether it’s a natural disaster, a financial scandal, or a safety issue — the response must be prompt, measured, and organized. Having a crisis communication plan in place before an incident happens is essential for managing the situation effectively.
