Condo Media - February 2021 - 27

utilizing PPE make it less likely that residents will get sick? Can you depend on
each resident to carefully clean exercise
equipment before and after use? Will
closing the gym better prevent the transfer of the virus from person to person?
Would reworking parking policies during
blizzard situations keep residents safer
and make snow removal easier? Would
informing homeowners to leave faucets
dripping keep the water lines from freezing and pipes from bursting? Staying in
compliance with local fire ordinances
and performing inspections and maintenance on the fire protection system
may reduce the likelihood of a fire emergency. All disaster risks, including the
new public health emergency, should be
carefully scrutinized to determine if the
board can take some proactive steps to
prevent or minimize its effect.
STEP THREE: Create a
Disaster Management Plan
For risks that can be predicted or expected, but which your analysis indicates
you cannot prevent, you must devise a disaster plan. This will provide a procedure
to manage the disaster so that health
and safety of unit owners and residents
are protected and property damage is
contained or confined. Quick response
to the emergency by informed community members is key to minimizing the
disaster. Although a pandemic was likely
never expected, it should now be added
to your list of risks. Your plan should:

l State the risk
l List the projected outcomes and/or
damage and people and areas likely
to be impacted
l Detail the steps to be taken to
minimize the impact and by whom
l Provide a contact list, including
insurance company, attorney,
contractors, etc.
l Include updated resident status
information for those most at risk
or in need of special assistance

l Detail board member, staff, and
homeowner responsibilities

l Funding options

l Specify procedures for
communications to residents

l Communications to
homeowners and
residents

l Identify a community
spokesperson, if appropriate

l Salvaging the reputation
of the community

Even armed with a clearly thought-out restoration plan,
handling the work that must be done during and following
a disaster without the assistance of professionals is not a
prudent course of action for a self-managed association.
STEP FOUR: Minimize
Post-Emergency Damage
Unlike our struggle with COVID-19,
which continues to affect us and is
expected to do so until a majority
of the population is inoculated with
the vaccine, most emergency events,
like blizzards and fires, are brief, only
encompassing a day or two. However,
following the disaster, there is even
more work for the self-managed
board. Knowing what must be done
and having an approved protocol is
also necessary if you are going to be
able to reestablish normalcy for your
residents. If you have determined procedures that must be followed in the
days following a disaster, your board
will be in better position to deal with
the needs of your community. Your
post emergency plan should address:

l The insurance claim procedure,
if appropriate
l The board's legal authority and
responsibilities and requirements
under state and local law
l Reconstruction operations,
in the event of physical damage
to the property

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
Even armed with a clearly thought-out
restoration plan, handling the work
that must be done during and following
a disaster without the assistance of
professionals is not a prudent course
of action for a self-managed association. You will need to work closely with
your attorney and insurance agent
in the event of physical damage and
possibly even contract for the services
of an architect or engineer, qualified
contractors, and maybe a construction manager. Returning to normalcy
following our public health pandemic
will also require consultation with the
self-managed association's legal professional, along with a clear understanding of the recommendations of the
CDC and state and local authorities.
The Community Associations Institute has numerous publications that can
assist the board with creating an emergency preparedness plan. As an industry
resource, CAI-NE will also make available to you a network of professionals,
consultants, and service providers to
help when emergencies impact your
self-managed community.
n PATRICIA BRAWLEY, CMCA,
AMS, PCAM IS THE OWNER OF
CENTRAL MANAGEMENT &

l Building code issues
in reconstruction

CONSULTING SERVICES.

February 2021 CONDOMEDIA

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Condo Media - February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - February 2021
