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.
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.
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.
The Maui wildfires that tore through the historic town of Lahaina last week have become the deadliest in modern U.S. history, killing more than 100 people, reports The Washington Post. Homes, condominiums, schools, and businesses were reduced to rubble by the fast-moving inferno.
Hurricane Ian pummeled Florida’s southwestern coast last week, causing dozens of deaths, generating widespread property damage, and knocking out access to basic utilities in communities across the state. Considered one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history, cleanup, restoration, and rebuilding efforts are ongoing and will take some time.
