When a natural disaster occurs, repairing even one home is demanding, but coordinating restoration for an entire community is a much more daunting task. Thus, it is critical to plan ahead before reconstruction is needed. While homeowners associations can’t necessarily control the actions of each individual homeowner, you can provide easy-to-follow instructions for the quickest possible recovery. Ask the following questions to begin your community’s plan:

• Do you have a resident checklist? The list, which should be updated annually, should include emergency phone numbers (e.g., local police, Red Cross and relatives), as well as any pertinent guidelines to follow during a severe weather situation. If applicable, identify a safe room in each home (or ask residents to identify their own) and designate a meeting spot where they can safely gather after a storm.
• Do you know your neighbors? Encourage residents to communicate with one another. Find out who has specialized equipment and tools – like generators and chainsaws. Also, see if any neighbors have medical expertise which might be needed during an emergency.
• Does our insurance cover that? Find out now, before you need to make repairs. In most multi-family developments, both the individual owner and the community’s association will have separate insurance policies. In severe weather situations, often both policies are utilized to cover the damaged areas. To ensure the fastest possible rebuild, ask all homeowners to review their policies – and in turn, share with them what is covered under the “master policy.” Familiarize yourself with insurance deductibles for all claims.
• Is there anything else I can do? Even with the best preparation, you can’t prevent damage from occurring, but you can try to minimize its effects. Cover torn-off roofs and broken windows with tarps and plywood – and, if water is the issue, use large fans to “dry-out” the home faster. To ensure the quickest recovery, establish a relationship with a disaster contractor – and encourage residents to do the same.