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5 6 STEPS TO CREATING AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN A carefully-crafted emergency action plan can help your community know how to respond during a hurricane. We invite every association to follow the steps below to create a unique plan that meets the needs of their residents. STEP 1: FORM A COMMITTEE Establish a planning committee to help develop your emergency action plan. Start by having the committee answer some basic questions to help shape your plan. • Where is your community located? (i.e., metropolitan, suburban, desert, mountains, beach, farmland, etc.) For example, if you live near a river that historically floods every year, then your plan should include ways to mitigate the effects on residents. • What type of association is it? (i.e., high-rise, condominium, single- family, planned community, etc.) The size and layout of your association will determine where to focus your efforts. A high-rise community, for example, may choose to focus on evacuation planning, while a small, single-family home community may put their efforts into helping homeowners protect and board up their homes before a hurricane. • What kind of buildings, landscaping, amenities, and mechanical equipment does your plan need to take into consideration? Having a thorough record of all common property is essential to your board's duties. You should know exactly what your community has and how to protect it. • What are the demographics of your community in terms of age, families, and economic status? For example, if you know most of your residents will need physical assistance evacuating their homes, then your association should plan accordingly. • How will the board communicate the plan to association members and other community partners? Your plan will be ineffective if people don't know how to access it. Having a communications plan in place is essential.

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