The higher you live in a condominium, the stronger the wind will be during a storm. So if your condo has a balcony, patio or lanai, clear it of loose items. “Things that are being dislodged at height from a building will become wind borne debris missiles that can strike other portions of your building […]
Timber Lake owners make dam preparations in advance of Hurricane Florence (VA)
Residents of the Timber Lake neighborhood said flooding caused by heavy rainfall in August was “a dress rehearsal” as the community prepares for potential flooding at the 57-acre lake this weekend. “We are in full Hurricane Florence mode,” DD Gillett, president of the Timberlake Homeowners Association, said Tuesday. “We have an emergency plan that we […]
Hurricane Irma Lessons Learned – One Year Later (FL)
On September 10th, 2017 Hurricane Irma struck Florida and caused damage that is still being addressed. What lessons did your community learn? Were you prepared before the storm with adequate hurricane protection on your property and emergency procedures and requirements already in place? Was your response after the storm as efficient as it should have […]
In Bear Creek Village, residents demanding action to prevent future flooding (TX)
The neighborhood, which sits nestled next to the Addicks Reservoir, was one of the hardest hit areas during Hurricane Harvey, with some homes seeing upwards of six feet of water. Read the article………………
Narrowing The Cone of Uncertainty – Is Your Community Association Prepared for an Emergency?
Once disaster strikes, the opportunity to adequately prepare for a hurricane has passed. As Florida enters hurricane season, we wish to remind community associations and their members of the importance of having a plan in place to operate the association, make emergency repairs and ensure the safety of the unit owners, guests and tenants immediately […]
Understanding Flood Zones in Florida
As we approach the height of hurricane season, it’s a good time for property owners to brush up on their understanding of flood zones and how they impact flood insurance. Below are some resources and answers to frequently asked questions on flood zones: Read the article………………
Congress Extends Flood Insurance Program Through November
The U.S. Senate has approved a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through November 30th. With the U.S. House of Representatives having already cleared the legislation, the measure now goes to President Trump for his signature into law. Read the article………………
5 Reasons Your Association Needs a Business Plan
Being selected to serve on the Board of Directors is a great compliment from your neighbors, but it’s also a significant responsibility. In every role on the board, you must act on behalf of all who have appointed you as the decision maker for the community. But, when you consider the various needs, conditions and […]
Before and After the Flood
Whether you are a homeowner or renter, it is important to be prepared before and after a flood occurs. An up-to-date household and property inventory will help properly document your losses. Create a family disaster plan. The plan should include a place to meet in case you are separated from one another and list an […]
Lessons from Hurricane Irma (FL)
With the 2018 hurricane season already upon us, and the National Hurricane Center predicting a near or above normal year, we can look back at the lessons learned from Hurricane Irma to ensure we are prepared this season. Read the article……………..
Communication is Key to Hurricane Preparation and Rebuilding (FL)
Last year, Hurricane Irma proved that, whether you live in a high-rise or a gated community, hurricanes are a real risk. Community association boards should have a hurricane preparedness plan to minimize damage and risk to homes and residents. But the strongest hurricane preparedness plan won’t be very effective if it hasn’t been properly communicated […]
Community Association Hurricane Season Preparedness: What to Do Before a Hurricane Hits Your Association
Another Florida hurricane season kicks off on the first of June. Is your community association prepared? Many condominium associations around the State are still recovering from a lack of hurricane preparedness before last year’s season. Do not let this happen to your community association this year! Understand your emergency powers by reviewing this best practice […]
Preparing Your Florida Community Association for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season starts on June 1. Has your Florida community association started taking the necessary steps to be well prepared for any possible storms this season? If your association has not begun preparing, then now is the time to get ready. Here are some tips on how to prepare your Florida community association for this […]
Why Do So Many HOAs Fail To Properly Plan For Predictable Expenses?
A fortune teller asked me to gaze into her crystal ball. “I see wear and tear in your condominium’s future. I see a new roof will be needed. I see cracking paint and asphalt in need of repair. I see (gasp!) no money to pay for these things!” It doesn’t take a fortune teller to […]
Planning for Tornado Season: How to Keep Your HOA Safe
Planning for tornado season is the best action to take in keeping your HOA safe. With over 1,400 tornadoes in the U.S. during 2017, and with the year being the fifth highest tornado count on record, tornadoes are indeed a serious matter. Be proactive rather than reactive by taking the following steps to ensure your […]
The Top 10 Items to Include in Your Community’s Disaster Preparedness Plan
Disaster preparedness is key for a successful response and recovery process for any community association dealing with an unexpected emergency. Having a plan helps to reduce anxiety and fear among unit owners and board members because it helps you know what to expect and provides a structure to follow. Below are ten items that every […]
Food Safety During a Power Outage in Your HOA
Power failures can be one of the most annoying and disabling occurrences in your HOA. Whether caused by summer storms, power lines crippled by winter ice, equipment failure, an overloaded regional grid or an animal disrupting a power line, electrical outages can be costly, uncomfortable, and without forethought sometimes even dangerous. Association homeowners can face […]
Preparing for an Emergency in your HOA Neighborhood
As an HOA there are a few things your board can do to help protect the community, and to also prepare for a worst case scenario. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Let’s look at the things your board can do to plan for emergencies. It is helpful to first identify […]
Are You Crazy If You DON’T Special Assess For Hurricane Damage? (FL)
Did your association pay for damage from Hurricane Irma with operating funds? Did you consider a special assessment? What if I told you that half of your owners would be reimbursed up to $2,000 by their insurance company for the amount of the special assessment attributable to hurricane damage. Would that change your mind? Many […]
Best Practices: Natural Disasters
No matter what type of disaster occurs—environmental, socio-political, or technological—community leaders must oversee and lead the recovery process. A comprehensive and current disaster plan is crucial for community resiliency and sustainability. Common characteristics of communities that rebound successfully from a major disaster include a strong desire to recover and rebuild, active networking with local agencies […]
Many condos want to install more storm protection after Irma. What are the options? (FL)
Now that Irma has come and gone and most of the dry out and cleanup has occurred, we are getting many questions from condominium association directors and officers asking how can they button up their windows, doors and sliders in the future to better avoid damage next time a hurricane may come our way. Under […]
Disaster Prep Saves Six Times as Much as It Costs
Many New Yorkers, shaken by memories of Hurricane Sandy, have been taking steps of their own to get ready for the next big one. A walk-up tenement in the East Village has installed a new boiler on the roof. A nearby Mitchell-Lama co-op has purchased snap-together barriers to prevent floodwaters from entering the building. Another […]
Cost and Liability Shouldn’t Short-Circuit Long-Range Planning
Mortgage broker Patrick Niland, president of First Funding of New York and a former co-op board member, feels strongly about the importance of long-range planning for capital projects. “All co-ops and condos should have a capital plan, period,” he says. Read the article…………..
Co-op Board Learns to Act Fast After a Disaster (NY)
When fire roared up a restaurant ventilation shaft and devastated a Greenwich Village co-op called the Hamilton – destroying 56 of the 214 apartments – the board and its professionals got a crash course in how the cope with the aftermath of a disaster. The first thing they learned: deal with the biggest problems first. […]
How HOAs Respond to Emergencies
Crime, natural disasters, and medical emergencies are usually not top of mind–until they happen. Your homeowners association management company plays a role in the planning and recovery of emergencies–not during the emergency itself. In moments of crisis, such as fire, flood, earthquake, break-ins, accidents or other emergencies, your first priority should be to protect yourself […]
Recovery Plan – Preparing Your Community for Emergencies (Part 3)
Any emergency situation puts a lot of pressure on all community members. The safety of all community members and staff, and returning to daily tasks are the most important. In our previous two blog posts, we discussed how to evaluate the current emergency plan and how to create a new plan or update it. In […]
Hurricane Insurance, Part 2: 4 Tips for Ensuring Comprehensive Hurricane Insurance Coverage
When hurricanes roll in, violent weather in the form of extreme rain and high-speed winds results in loss of life and property alike. We saw the devastating results near the end of this year’s hurricane season during Tropical Storm Lidia, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey, and people who were affected are still rebuilding their homes […]
Hurricane Insurance: 6 Tips for a Successful Claims Process
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Tropical Storm Lidia, many board members and homeowners are now left dealing with the destruction these storms left in their wake – it’s estimated that Hurricane Irma alone caused more than $62.87 billion in damages, and these storms combined killed hundreds of people. Even though these […]
Aversion/Disaster Mitigation – Preparing Your Community for Emergencies (Part 2)
Once you’ve evaluated the current situation or emergency plan (whether you have a plan in place or not, and if you do, how much and what needs to be altered), it’s time to draft or update the plan. Work on the plan with your management team, staff, and board members. Consult with your most preferred […]
Paying for Emergency Repairs to Florida Condominiums
Florida is synonymous with condominium living as a way of life. It’s also synonymous with hurricanes. Hurricanes have largely shaped Florida’s construction industry in that the building code is shaped and modeled after the construction of structure that can withstand the storms. The building code creates certain high wind zones near the coastline that carry […]
Should HOA’s Receive FEMA Funds?
With recent storms ravaging homes across the nation, many homeowners are taking a closer look at the laws and regulations put in place to help rebuild after a natural disaster. For most concerned homeowners, one of the main questions is whether or not the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) will offer assistance to community association […]
Hurricane Shutters and Hurricane Protection Policies: Does your Condominium have what it needs? (FL)
With the recent threat from Hurricane Irma, many condominium associations were faced with emergency requests from unit owners for the association to install or for the association to allow owners to install hurricane shutters or other forms of hurricane protection. Read the article………………
After the Hurricane, Associations Should Approach the Rebuilding Process with Care
Four weeks after Hurricane Irma, most associations have likely made progress in making temporary repairs to damaged communities. This week’s column will focus on the various issues that arise during the rebuilding process that occur after the storm. Part of such process includes selecting the appropriate contractor to perform the work and ensuring that the […]
Thinking About Disaster Planning? You Should Be!
Most people think about disasters as something that happens to others, not to them. But after witnessing back-to-back weather catastrophes in Houston, Florida, the Caribbean, and more recently in Puerto Rico, many condominium associations are recognizing that the unthinkable could, in fact, happen to their communities, and considering what they should do to prepare for […]
Floods And Flood Insurance: Don’t Be Up The Creek Without A Paddle
As we, our neighbors, families, and friends, here and in Puerto Rico, are picking up the pieces in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, the prospect of making claims on our homeowner’s insurance policies can seem overwhelming in the face of the destruction caused by these storms. Much of the damage in our […]
Who Is Responsible for Damage and Removal of Downed Trees? (FL)
Hurricane Irma caused a lot of damage in Central Florida and we are still dealing with downed trees and limbs littering neighborhoods. Since the storm, we have received countless phone calls from clients asking who is responsible for damage caused by a neighboring property owner’s tree falling on their property, or who is responsible for […]
How an HOA Manager Helps the Board Prepare for Emergency Situations
When people think of an emergency, the first image that usually comes to mind is a natural disaster. But an emergency in your homeowners association isn’t always a flood or fire. There can also be financial or management-related emergencies that an HOA board is faced with. Most Boards aren’t prepared to handle emergencies and can […]
The Importance of Community Risk Reduction
Have you ever heard the phrase “community risk reduction” and wondered what it means and how it affects you? Community risk reduction (CRR) is not a new concept. It is preparedness at its best — a proactive approach to problem-solving. Often perceived as public education, CRR is more than that; it is a series of […]
Be Prepared! (FL)
Hurricanes can be a stressful time for everyone. In order to ease your stress somewhat, please try to follow these tips in order to be prepared for whatever may come. Read the article……………….
Hurricane Irma Take-Aways for Condo & Community Associations
Hurricane Irma Take-Aways for Community Associations 1 – Review and Update Insurance Policies. All insurance policies should be reviewed and updated as necessary, at least annually. Review dates should be calendared well in advance and incorporated into other annual must-do tasks. 2 – Maintain Landscaping and Ensure Potential Projectiles are Secured. Trees and shrubbery grow […]
Hurricane Irma Hit – Now What? (FL)
We were just hit by the biggest storm in Florida’s history. Although there is damage, you are grateful everyone is safe and comforted by knowing that you have insurance. But, did you know that you are responsible to prevent additional damage and if you don’t mitigate then it could get very expensive? Failure to mitigate […]
In Heavily Flooded West Houston, a Neighborhood Comes Together to Save Itself (TX)
One of the first rescues was 120 pounds of wet, terrified Rhodesian ridgeback, wide-eyed and shaking on top of a kitchen counter. It was Sunday, August 27. A neighbor kid had been pet-sitting for the dog’s out-of-town owners, when he realized Buffalo Bayou was coming out of its banks so rapidly he could no longer […]
Guidance for Working With FEMA for Debris Removal Following Hurricanes Harvey & Irma
As storm victims struggle to survive after the devastation and loss caused by Hurricane Harvey, the first thing individuals and community associations should do is register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Community association residents are most likely concerned with debris removal. Here are steps a community association manager/board should take to […]
Lightning and Your HOA Community
When most of us think of summer, we think of hot sunny days by the water, but the summer months in Texas are also known for their wild storms. It can be hot one minute, and the next second the black storm clouds start rolling in. When planning outdoor activities, consider any looming storms on […]
Why Your Community Must Plan for Emergency Communication and Training
Whether you live in a high-rise condominium in Chicago, a homeowners association (HOA) in Houston or an active adult community in Las Vegas, emergencies can happen. Do you think your residents would know where to go or whom to contact in an emergency situation? Does your onsite staff know what to do to protect residents […]
Pre-Planning for an HOA Disaster Response: Roles and Responsibilities
Disaster planning is critical for anyone–but it’s doubly significant for HOAs and others in positions of authority. If a natural disaster strikes in your area, are you prepared to respond? Knowing the roles and responsibilities your HOA has in times of disaster will help everyone respond more efficiently, restoring order to your neighborhood sooner. Read […]
Why a HOA Strategic Plan is Key to Your Homeowners Association
Your HOA’s strategic plan is a high-level planning tool and document designed to capture your organization’s values and goals while providing direction and motivation to your members. Ideally, the HOA board drafts the strategic plan through a progressive series of planning sessions. Once the plan is ready, the HOA board can share it with the […]
Be Prepared for Florida’s 2017 Hurricane Season
Florida hurricane season is underway and residents of the Sunshine State may be in for more storms than usual. State officials are warning Floridians to be prepared, noting that Tropical Storm Arlene’s April appearance may be a harbinger. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”), the Atlantic hurricane season could produce up to […]
When a Natural Disaster Strikes, Is Your Association Covered?
Hurricanes. Floods. Tornadoes. Hail. Wildfires. Lightning strikes. Earthquakes. Blizzards. Mother Nature has quite the arsenal to throw at us! Unfortunately, every part of North America is subject to one or more of these events. Some, like hurricanes, come with enough advance warning to prepare for them, but most do not. That’s why it is critical […]
Power Outages and Blackouts – How Your Association Can Minimize Risk
Losing power is never fun. But it’s bound to happen at some point, so preparation is the best defense. Obviously, different types of communities are affected by blackouts in different critical ways: high-rises lose their elevators and water; resort-style gated communities lose the ability to operate their gates. For residents, a blackout may be a […]