As we approach June, it's time for community association board members on the east coast to begin preparing for the Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricanes can be incredibly destructive, so association leaders must do all they can to protect their residents and property. In this article, we'll cover some tips on preparing your community for a potential hurricane.

Establish Communication Protocol
One crucial step in hurricane preparedness is to establish a clear communication protocol. Make sure everyone in your association knows whom to contact for storm-related updates and information if your community is partnered with a management company, so they can assist with updates and give you information on any protocols or plans they may have in place to deal with severe weather conditions. Further, establishing one connection point between the board and the management company will help streamline communications during extreme weather.

Form a Hurricane Committee
Forming a special committee within the community may be a good idea in hurricane-prone areas. This group of community volunteers can help prepare and advise residents on safely preparing for approaching storms. For instance, the committee can be responsible for educating residents on best practices for securing their homes and landscaping or communicating items that owners may want to keep on hand if they’re not evacuating.

Develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan
Every community must have a detailed emergency preparedness plan in place. This plan should include a comprehensive list of responsibilities and who holds them, evacuation information, shelter locations, and information on other area resources. It should be reviewed, updated, and practiced regularly, especially before the hurricane season begins. 

Work with your Community Management Company
While every community should have a well-thought-out emergency preparedness plan, the reality is that not every board member has the expertise, time, or resources to create the perfect plan. That's why it's essential to work with your community manager to develop a plan that will meet your community's needs. In fact, CAMS has an emergency checklist that can be tailored to fit your community’s specific needs.

CAMS Jump Team
Finally, when a hurricane hits, it is not unusual for internet and power service to be impacted, and often employees do not have electricity and cannot travel to affected areas. CAMS has a "jump team" of employees from unaffected regions who can communicate with property owners in impacted zones.  Information on the CAMS extreme weather website is updated throughout a storm event as new information becomes available.

Conclusion
Preparing for hurricane season can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. By working with your community management company, you can create an effective emergency preparedness plan that will aid in protecting your residents and property. Remember to keep communication lines open, form a hurricane committee, if necessary, establish an emergency preparedness plan that's reviewed and updated annually, work closely with your community manager, and utilize CAMS’ extreme weather website for regular storm updates. Stay safe and prepared this hurricane season!

About Community Association Management Services
In business for over 32 years, CAMS is North and South Carolina’s premier community management company. With experienced local managers in each of its nine regions, CAMS provides innovative solutions to the community associations it serves. Additionally, CAMS was featured on Inc. Magazine’s 2022 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. To learn more, visit www.camsmgt.com/choose-cams.