Safety in The Face Of A Storm

As I am writing this, I’m on a flight to Denver, Colorado for the annual Large Scale Managers Workshop, while back at home in Hawaii, my community braces for tropical storm Olivia. Living in Hawaii, we are all too familiar with the threats of incoming hurricanes and tropical storms. In fact, preparing for a severe storm has almost become a way of life.  Just now I hear over the loud speaker during my Delta flight: "Please keep your seat belts on during the flight and the aisles clear for your safety."

It seems that wherever we go nowadays, there is always someone looking out for our safety and well being. During hurricane warnings at home, every news channel is giving you the minute-by-minute update on the path of the storm, even the mayor and governor are on TV urging people to be prepared and exercise safety. Sometimes it may seem like their approach to safety is overkill, but when it comes to minimizing injury and property damage, being safeis always better than being sorry.

As property managers, that is our job - to protect our residents, our property, and be able to identify possible areas that may open our associations to risk. Although there are many things we can do as managers, here are just a few tips that come to mind.

1. Inspecting Common Area Trees

In Waikele, we have about a thousand trees in our inventory. Common area trees are generally trimmed on an annual or bi-annual trimming schedule. However, during hurricane season it’s important to have your landscaper inspect your trees (especially the large canopy species) for loose branches and to trim back canopies as much as possible. During a storm, high winds over 50 mph can easily catch these canopies and bring a large tree down, causing damage to adjacent structures or even blocking roadway access. The city road maintenance crews usually assist if a large tree is obstructing access on a city and county-dedicated road; however, if the tree is blocking access on a privately-owned road, then the responsibility will most likely fall upon the association or the board of directors.

2. Inspect Drainage Easements

If your property has drainage easements or drainage swales, it is a good idea to inspect these inlets to make sure these areas are not obstructed with debris. Our landscapers actually clean the drainages before incoming storms and then take photos.  The photos serve as documentation and protect the association from lawsuits in the event of flooding.

3. Use Your Website

If your property has a website, this can be a useful information tool. You can post messages to your residents about the nearest shelters, storm preparation tips, and emergency phone numbers.

4. Shut Down Irrigation Clocks

Severe storms like hurricanes generally bring rain...lots of rain. Therefore, it is a wise decision to shut down the irrigation clocks for several days up to a week. This simple action will save your association money and reduce water waste. 

5. Make GO Bags

Several years ago, I attended a seminar put on by the American Red Cross. In this class, they showed us how to make GO Bags. AGO Bag is a large backpack that you put together consisting of supplies in the event of an emergency.  My personal GO Bag contains a first aid kit, flashlight, freeze dried food for 5 days, pouches of drinking water, solar charging panels for my cell phone, a knife, and many other useful survival supplies. If for some reason I needed to evacuate my home and I only had seconds to spare, my GO Bag is the first thing I would grab.

6. Hold Classes or Workshops

But even with an incoming hurricane, my GO Bag gives me a sense of security. I don’t feel like I need to rush to the store and fight for the last pack of batteries in a crowd of panicking people. Fear and being unprepared can sometimes be as dangerous as the storm itself. Although preparing your family for a natural disaster is not the responsibility of the homeowners association, property managers can help. By holding a class or workshop for your residents on how to prepare for a hurricane, you now empower your residents to help themselves and their neighbors.

As I reflect upon these helpful tips, I am reminded of the motto when I was a boy scout: "Be prepared."  This motto could not be any truer for our generation.