Don't Let Unscathed
Lead to Unpreparedness
The last hurricane to hit Florida was Wilma in 2005, which is great news, of course. But along with 10 years of good luck comes a natural sense of apathy that can creep in if we let it.
Following are the Department of Homeland Security's tips for hurricane preparedness for residential communities, with a little extra C.A.M.S. insight thrown in for good measure.
1. Create an emergency preparedness kit.
Build an emergency kit for the front office with essential supplies like a flashlight, blanket, fire extinguisher, battery-powered radio, whistle, first aid kit, basic hand tools and a gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days for drinking and sanitation. Urge your residents to do the same.
2. Familiarize yourself with the property.
Residents and staff should be familiar with the property on which they live and work, including elevation levels that could be affected by storm surge or tidal flooding, as well as levees, dams and drainage areas.
3. Establish a communications plan.
Publicize the best ways to communicate should power and landlines fail. Also prepare multiple backup communication plans should initial backup modes of communication fail.
4. Secure the property to minimize damage.
Both the association and residents should have protection for windows and other vulnerable building features prepared and stored for easy access before the first hint of a named storm begins brewing, and a means in place to install them. A day before landfall is not the time to go shopping for plywood or begin calling around for a handyman to install your storm shutters if you're unable to do it yourself.
5. Prepare the exterior of the property.
Airborne objects hurtling at breakneck speed---from coconuts to seemingly harmless debris---that you wouldn't be willing to stop with your body should be cleared from the property or otherwise battened down. This includes dead or dying tree branches, furniture, decorations, garbage cans and flower pots, etc. Hurricane Andrew registered gusts of 300+ mph before the anemometers broke.
6. Get your residents ready.
Above all, prepare your residents with regular communications about hurricane preparedness. Printed materials to emails, evacuation drills to speaking events by local authorities all help to prevent the apathy that 10 years hurricane-free has helped create.
