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10 BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNICATION Communication, or lack thereof, is the main area in which most managers and boards receive criticism during an emergency. Designate official channels to communicate before, during, and after a hurricane, to keep everyone informed and resolve questions or concerns as they arise. Below are some guidelines for effectively communicating during an emergency event. USE A COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT APP Online community management applications like TownSq are changing the way communities everywhere receive and disseminate information. Boards and managers can quickly and easily share documents, including hurricane prep plans, with residents and send real-time news and updates. Best of all, you can reach your entire community easily from any device. ORGANIZE A PHONE TREE If the phones are still working during an emergency, you can use a telephone tree to share short, essential information. Phone trees are organized like a pyramid, with one designated call leader at the top. Once activated, participants call their assigned phone numbers until everyone in the tree is reached. PROVIDE PHYSICAL COPIES OF YOUR EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Power is often lost during a large storm. This means access to the internet, cell phone towers, and other technology isn't available. Consider giving homeowners physical copies of your emergency action plan so that they know what to do even if they experience a power outage. ASK FOR FEEDBACK Despite best efforts, when it comes to hurricanes, you can't plan for everything. Do your best to keep open lines of communication between your boards, homeowners, and management company. If you're hit with a hurricane, ask for feedback when it's over. Take the information you receive and use it to improve your communication plans for next time.

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