community association hurricane preparations Tag Archives

June 2, 2020

Hurricane Preparedness Plans During the Pandemic

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The 2020 hurricane season has just begun, and NOAA predicts a 60 percent chance that it will be busier than normal. In addition to all the standard hurricane preparations and measures that community associations should take in advance of a storm threat, the COVID-19 pandemic will bring an added dimension of protocols and precautions.

Associations for communities located in areas under evacuation orders will need to implement their plans in accordance with the CDC guidelines for social distancing and face coverings. Residents will need to be reminded to adhere to the federal agency’s recommendations, and those who refuse to comply with evacuation orders out of fear of exposure to the virus will need to be referred to the association’s legal counsel and possibly also to law enforcement.

Below is a link to our firm’s Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Guide, which includes helpful guidance and recommendations for community associations to prepare for storms and contend with their aftermath. We encourage association directors and property managers to print and review the guide at the start of the season, and our attorneys are available to answer any questions regarding the information in the guide that may arise.

Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Guide

June 7, 2019

Hurricane Preparedness: What Associations Need to Know

by Evonne Andris

Evonne Andris

Hurricane preparedness is a significant undertaking for every community association in Florida. Being well prepared — and well informed — can determine whether association boards and their managers will sink or swim in the aftermath of a storm. Here are some helpful tips to enable associations to stay ahead of the 2019 hurricane season, which officially began on June 1 and will end on November 30:

Maintain an up-to-date paper roster of the current residents, and store it at an accessible off-site location. A separate list of residents who are remaining in the building should also be kept. Accounting for the whereabouts of all residents can be vital for emergency response teams who might have to provide medical assistance to any residents in need.

Keep important documents at a safe alternate location. This includes a copy of the association’s governing documents, a certified copy of the insurance policy, bank account information, service provider contracts, and contact information for all residents, staff and vendors of the association.

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September 5, 2017

Insurance Reminders for Community Associations Preparing for Hurricane Irma

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

Hurricane Irma is now a category five storm that is predicted to impact the state of Florida by late this week. As all community associations prepare their properties for the storm, they should also take specific measures to prepare for any insurance claims that may arise. Below is an excerpt from an article by firm partner Laura M. Manning-Hudson on these pre-storm insurance recommendations that was posted in this blog earlier this year:

At the start of every hurricane season, association board members or property management should photograph and/or video all of the main public areas of the condominium property. These images could become vitally important in the event that a storm strikes and claims are filed. Associations should also take the time to store copies of their wind, flood and property insurance policies in waterproof cases in a secure location. If possible, digital copies should also be stored in several computers and devices.