Is Your HOA Ready For Hurricane Season?

June 1^st marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season. Though peak season generally begins in the middle of August, homeowner and condo associations need to be prepared for the season as early as possible. The 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season is predicted to be the most active since 2012, so it’s crucial to take steps to prepare your HOA for the coming months.

Here are a few things you can do to ensure that your homeowners association is well prepared for hurricane season.

Back Up Important Records

Important compute files should be backed up and stored off site. If you work with a professional HOA management company, they can handle this for you. If not, at the bare minimum you should back up your files to an external storage device (that is kept off site) or an online storage provider.

Make sure you have a physical copy of all current board members, property owners and employees. Update contact and emergency information as necessary. Keep a hard copy of vendors and their contact information handy in case you need emergency repairs.

Take pictures or videos of the property, and save them in a secure location in case you need to file an insurance claim following a major storm.

Stock Up on Emergency Supplies

Make sure you have an emergency supply with batteries, flashlights and any other things your members may need. Check your emergency generators, and make sure they have fuel and are in working order. You may want to stock up on fuel for your generators as well.

Make Sure Everyone is Familiar with Important Locations

Have a building plan in place so you can easily provide it to first responders, utility workers and insurance agents following a hurricane or major storm.

It’s also important to ensure that members and homeowners in your community are familiar with the location of water shutoff valves and power boxes. You should also have an evacuation plan in place.

Homeowners associations in Florida need to be prepared for the worst during hurricane season. With 2016 expected to be a more active than usual season, it’s important to take steps to ensure the safety of your members and property owners. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your emergency plan or supplies, but it’s always best to have one in place just in case.