No hurricane season should be taken lightly. There’s always the potential for danger and damage with often unpredictable weather during the season, which typically runs from June 1 through November 30th.
However, recent predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Climate Prediction Center suggests that this hurricane season is going to be above average in terms of hurricane frequency and intensity. With the latest hurricane predictions in mind, we wanted to share some tips on how to plan for this year’s hurricane season.
An Intense Hurricane Season
NOAA’s outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season shows some cause for extra concern and planning this year:
- There is a 65% chance of an above-normal season.
- NOAA forecasts that there will be 14-21 named storms (with winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 6-10 could become hurricanes (with winds of 74 mph or higher) while 3-6 might become major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher).
The Risk of Not Planning for Hurricanes
Although the situation in Florida with the condo collapse is different than dealing with a hurricane, it does serve as a reminder about what can happen when you are not proactive about certain risks and decide to deter maintenance. In that case, not taking the time to regularly assess what could happen left that managed community open to a liability burden that most likely could have been minimized or eliminated.
Every year, there is a known hurricane season in many parts of the country. Managed communities in those areas may not know the frequency or intensity of the hurricanes each season. But, it can be said at least one hurricane is likely – that one hurricane requires a proactive plan to help protect and preserve the community and its assets. Even if the hurricanes don’t develop, heavy storms should also still be taken seriously.
A Proactive Plan for Every Hurricane Season
Here are some strategies that can help proactively prepare your communities for hurricane season:
- Know what’s at risk: It’s critical to know what type of hazards exist within your community that could be damaged, or cause the damage during a hurricane. This information should be included in your living reserve study so you can plan for potential repairs or maintenance as the result of a natural disaster.
- Regularly review insurance policies: Ensure that your insurance policy for community assets provide adequate coverage. If you have upgraded or added amenities to the community, ensure that those are also included in the insurance coverage.
- Develop and share an emergency plan: Once you know where the risks and vulnerabilities are in your community, create a plan to carry out efficient evacuations for all. Provide maps, routes, and information about shelters so that community members know where they can go.
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- Different types of communities may have different needs to address. An active adult community should have a plan to address community members’ physical limitations and/or how to evacuate with specific medical equipment and supplies. Another community may have boats or other types of watercrafts that need to be secured. Communities with patio furniture and other outdoor items should have a plan to store those items.
- Include specific information and direction in the emergency plan, including contact numbers, a list of staff, utility shut-off instructions and the location of emergency supplies.
- Agree on who will serve on the spokesperson for each community you serve so that they can inform residents, or contact any emergency authorities that may be required for assistance.
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- Maintain a current asset inventory: Track all community assets, including patio furniture, trash cans, and anything else that could be potentially damaged during a hurricane. It’s also good to take photos for your records, which can help facilitate any insurance claims.
- Create a disaster preparedness committee: Like other community committees, which are designed to help organize and deepen the collaborative spirit among residents, this committee can also do the same to prepare for a hurricane or any other natural disaster that may impact the area. Their insights, along with those that they collect from others in the community, can shape planning for any disaster.
- Use available technology: Not all community members may have the same experiences with hurricanes, and some may be new to the weather phenomenon. Having an app for your community provides a way to get real-time information to community residents to help them make decisions about when to leave and where to go should there be a hurricane threat. Residents will appreciate this access to information.
- Consider drills: Where possible, it can help to run drills within a community that includes all responsible parties so they feel prepared to act if a natural disaster strikes.
- Distribute emergency supplies: Consider working with different local vendors or organizations that help you build emergency kits that are filled with essential supplies for all your residents.
- Assign tasks for before and after the hurricane: Be prepared with a list of who can help prepare the community, and participate in preventative maintenance while assisting with any potential aftermath from the storm. This includes partnering with your community vendors – landscapers, swimming pool professionals and contractors who can help restore the community’s common areas after the storm.
Your Planning Partner
When it comes to hurricane planning, Innovia is here to help. We provide the insights, guidance, knowledge and experience to address challenges and maximize opportunities to drive greater community value. As a cooperative model, Innovia also gives you the ability to tap into collective resources and intelligence. If you want to learn more about joining our co-op, click here.
