Condo Preparedness

Condo owners should prepare for an approaching storm.

If a hurricane sets its sights on Pinellas County, condominium owners need to be ready to weather the storm.

• Condominium Owners

Six condo-specific tips for residents are:

• Know your evacuation zone. Even if you live on an upper floor, you may be completely cut off from rescue if the grounds flood. Never evacuate up.
• Get shutters or panels to cover your glass doors and windows now. Be sure to check with your condominium association to see if a specific style is required.
• Bring all balcony furniture, potted plants and other items indoors so they won’t be blown around by strong winds.
• Know where your exit stairwells are located. These exits may be necessary if your building loses power, and elevators are unavailable.
• Talk with the condo management group to find out about its hurricane plan for the entire facility.
• Talk with your association about what would happen if your condominium were destroyed by a hurricane. Every declaration of condominium should have language that addresses rebuilding or dissolution. Typically this information is found following the section about insurance.

Some Suggestions for Management of Condominiums

Condominium and Homeowner Association Managers should know how to put an emergency plan together. This could possibly reduce your insurance expense and liability.

• Name floor captains to check on residents with special needs before and after the hurricane.
• If the building is not in an evacuation zone, find a safe place for residents to take shelter. An interior hallway or other windowless room is usually safest.
• Let your tenants know early of any intent to shut down the building’s electricity, water or sewer services.
• Set up a master supply of drinking or clean water.
• Identify residents who have difficulty with mobility. Create a plan to help them if the electricity goes out or elevator fails.
• Set up a system to keep track of residents who leave the building, so everyone can be accounted for once the storm has passed.