No HOA-led community wants to be plagued by a disaster, but unfortunately, disasters happen and your members need to be prepared. Community-wide disaster readiness goes beyond mailing out general precautions to your neighbors.
Find out the important steps your HOA board and management team can take this year to ensure that your community is prepared for any natural or man-made disaster that could come your way.
Coordinate With Your Association Management Team, First
Although your Board may already have disaster plans in mind, it should always present them to its management team prior to unveiling them to the general population. This way, your Board can set expectations and processes with the management team before a disaster; which will aid in rapid communication to owners when a disaster strikes.
Realistically Focus on Potential Disasters
Time is precious as a Board Member, so when considering disaster plans, put geographically potential disasters at the top of your priorities. For example, in North Texas, you would be more concerned with tornadoes than earthquakes. By placing your focus where it’s geographically necessary, in the event that a disaster occurs in North Texas, your community will be best prepared to protect itself. Yes, earthquakes and hurricanes may create a ripple effect in our local weather patterns, but they hardly impact the immediate livelihood of the communities across North Texas.
Stay Proactive With Maintenance
It’s important to keep up with the maintenance of shared community buildings. By properly maintaining your buildings, your HOA is being proactive against any disasters or accidents that could occur due to improper maintenance. By following this tip, not only do your community members stay as safe as possible, but your Board has also taken steps away from huge liability risks.
Obtain All Member Contact Information
Make sure your Board Members and management team have the contact information for each family living within your community. Homeowner Information forms are requested at the time of closing, but oftentimes they are returned blank or not at all. As a Board, it would be prudent to check contact information at least once a year and develop a plan for filling in the gaps so that you can reach the largest number of homeowners in case of an emergency.
Review Your Emergency Response Plan at a Designated Meeting
Once the Board and your community management team have come to a consensus on disaster protocol, schedule a meeting or casual community event to present your plan to your neighbors. This is the preferred method to simply print out a notice and pinning it to neighborhood doors. By hosting a meeting, your Board will be able to ensure that they have addressed all concerns that its neighbors may have regarding disaster safety.
Publish Your Plan Online
Finally, make sure your plan is readily available 24/7. Get the information online at your community website or designated social media channels to ensure that any changes or updates are immediately accessible to the association’s members.
Let Goodwin & Company Help Mitigate Your HOA’s Liability
Don’t let the incoming spring weather threats take your association by surprise. Let Goodwin & Company help your community get prepared for potential disasters and damages. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our services and how we can assist a community like yours.
