Prepping Your Community for Hurricane Season

As Property Managers, it’s our responsibility to help keep our communities safe and ready for disaster. With hurricane season approaching, it’s important to start preparing now. Here are some steps to help ensure your community is protected.

The first thing to do is review your local municipality’s guidelines for emergency preparedness. Many communities have detailed protocols and resources for areas that could be damaged by a hurricane. Take some time to understand any potential risks in your area and start planning how to best prepare for them.

It’s also important to secure the exterior of your buildings and homes. It’s also a good idea to trim trees, and put away lawn furniture and other outdoor items. Provide residents with the information they need to stay safe during a hurricane. Make sure they understand the potential risks involved and alert them about the severity of the storm. Remind residents to stock up on non-perishable food items and bottled water. Provide contact numbers for local shelters and communicate ways to stay informed in the event of an emergency.

Residents need to consider the hurricane protection in place at their individual homes. Where applicable make sure protective features such as shutters are tested to ensure they are operable after many months of not being used.

Finally, review your insurance policy to make sure that it covers potential damage and losses related to a hurricane. Make sure all necessary changes have been made and any questions answered. Once you’re confident in your coverage, you can relax a bit knowing that you’ve done what you can to protect your residents and property.

Hurricane season is a time for heightened awareness, but don’t panic! Take safeguards and follow the guidelines from your municipality to ensure that your community is ready and safe for what might come.