Dear Residents:
Hurricane season is upon us once again and will last through November 30th. Florida can be threatened at anytime during this season. The information contained in this post will help you prepare for a hurricane or other severe weather emergency and understand how your Association will also prepare your community. This letter has also been written to help you take precautions to protect your family and property. Please take a moment to read this very important information.
Board Association, Inc. would like to ensure that all unit owners receive as much information as possible to aid in the preparation for any upcoming storm. A tropical storm or hurricane can develop within hours threatening the area. During these months, special precautions need to be taken by everyone in the community. Stay tuned to local weather updates during the season. Several weather services offer email and text notifications for severe weather such as www.weather.com. The following terms are used by weather forecasters:
HURRICANE WATCH- A hurricane may strike our area within 48 hours.
HURRICANE WARNING- A hurricane may strike within 36 hours.
Management will mass email periodic updates to all owners and let you know of current conditions or when services have been restored. Please make sure that management has an updated email address for you, make sure to also update your emergency contacts on the Association website.
All residents are encouraged to develop a personal disaster preparedness plan before an emergency strikes. The following internet links can aid you in further preparations:
http://www.floridadisaster.org
Please be advised that at the time a Hurricane Watch is issued, The Property Manager will begin to secure the building and common areas. Before sustained winds reach dangerous levels and the hurricane becomes an imminent threat, the essential personnel will shut down the property’s equipment such as the elevators, HVAC equipment and domestic water pumps. This will assure your systems will be operational after weather conditions return to normal and power has been restored.
PLAN AHEAD:
CLEAR BALCONIES
Implement as many precautions as practical in advance, such as removing all furniture from your balconies, removing all outside items that might become projectiles during the storm. It is not unusual to get wind driven rain into your unit through windows and doors. Be prepared by placing towels on windowsills and on the bottom of all exterior doors.
If you are leaving town for any length of time during hurricane season, please remove all balcony/patio furniture, plants, loose objects before you leave town. In the event of a storm, do not rely on the Association’s staff to make preparations for you; their time will be dedicated to securing the community’s mechanical operations and common areas.
In the event that the Association does have to access your unit in the absence of a tenant or owner to remove items from your balcony during the hours of the Tropical Storm Watch, Tropical Storm Warning, Hurricane Watch or Hurricane Warning- the Association will bill the owner $250.00 for the service. The intent of this fee is to make owners and/or residents responsible for securing their own units. By securing their own balconies, they will be reducing the chance of projectile items damaging the building.
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE A FAN! WHEN HVAC EQUIPMENT IS SHUT DOWN (THIS MEANS THE AC SYSTEM WILL BE SHUT DOWN AND SECURED TO PREVENT DAMAGE) IN PREPARATION FOR THE STORM, YOUR AC WILL NOT WORK- YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE FAN SHOULD THE BUILDING STILL HAVE POWER.
Residents are urged to develop a disaster preparedness plan before emergency strikes. As part of your plan have an emergency supply kit ready. Be sure to have flashlight, battery operated radio, water and food supplies. A full list is available at: https://www.floridadisaster.org/
PETS:
During a storm, all access doors to the building will be locked and have sandbags placed on them to prevent water intrusion. Make sure you have pee-pee pads in your unit as you will not be able to take your dog out. Also, please keep in mind that the trash chutes will be closed due to the pressurization of the building. Keep your trash bags inside your unit until the building returns to normal operations and trash chute doors are opened.
INSURANCE
Review your insurance policies to ensure you are fully covered. Inventory and take pictures of your apartment and valuables and store photos and documents in waterproof container. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR YOUR UNIT, NOW IS THE TIME TO OBTAIN IT. Personal property, unit finishes such as cabinetry, flooring, and unit appliances, mechanical, and plumbing is not covered by the Association policies. Unit owners should carry an H06 policy, and tenants should carry renter’s insurance to cover their personal property.
SPECIAL NEED RESIDENTS
Special needs residents should be sure to register NOW with the front desk or office. Residents who require special care or special transportation have to preregister with the Miami-Dade County Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program at 305-513-7700. 888-311-3233 or 305-468-5402
PLAN YOUR EVACUATION
We are in an evacuation zone. You should have a transportation plan and a pre-planned place to stay during an evacuation, if necessary. Remember that pets are not allowed in most evacuation shelters. Call in advance so you can make plans for you and your pets. Only essential personnel may be allowed back on the community for several days after the storm.
Remember that barrier islands are subject to storm surge or flood and there is only very limited access to leave the island to the mainland. You will want to evacuate well ahead of the possibility of flooded roads and mass traffic jams.
When an evacuation order is issued, EVERYONE must evacuate the community. An evacuation area is no place to be during a hurricane. Employees and emergency responders are expected to evacuate as well.
There will be no emergency services during a storm, and authorities will not be available to help you. Essential condo operations, such as the elevators, air conditioning, water service etc. will be suspended. The Condominium could become inundated by a storm surge.
Please also keep in mind that if you do not evacuate, you can expect that there will be no building or Association services once the staff evacuates and possibly for several days after the storm.
At the time a call for evacuation has been issued, the Association employees will conclude the procedures to prepare the community’s common areas for the storm and leave. Once an evacuation order is given, you should be packed and prepared to leave. Government officials advise elderly and handicapped residents not to wait for the official evacuation order; please leave early.
After the hurricane has passed, all essential personnel will return to the property as soon as physically possible. Please be safe and plan ahead!
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors.
