Carin’s Corner
by
Carin Rosengren | CAI-MN Communications Committee Chair, Keller Property Management
When Disaster Strikes
F
or the past several months, the Communications Committee has been referring to this edition of Minnesota Community Living as “the disaster issue,” of course working with the ultimate hope and goal that it won’t BE a disaster. And today, looking at the great lineup of contributing writers who helped fill this magazine, I think we can claim success. Consider the association(s) you manage or where you serve on the Board of Directors. Is your HOA prepared in the event a tornado takes a turn down your street? How about in the event of a fire, or a flood? What if there was an accident that took someone’s life? What would you take with you if you had to evacuate quickly? Do you have a plan? • “Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected and the unexpected will occur here in Minnesota.” This truth is found in Bob MacDonald’s wonderful article, “Personal Disaster Planning,” in which he shares personal stories and speaks from years of experience living and working in the Florida Keys. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be ready to evacuate (or to hunker down with the basic supplies for survival) in the event of any kind of disaster. • Look locally for assistance in planning for disaster, as every city has resources that HOAs can use. Attorney Michael Klemm discusses gathering information, making a point of contact and evaluating your association’s potential strengths and weaknesses, in his contribution, “Coordinating Emergency Preparedness with Police and Fire.”
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Minnesota Communit y Living
• In his article, “Disaster Preparation and Restoration,” contributor Russ Lis frames the issue in a succinct way: “The time for action is long before the disaster happens. The time to plan is NOW!” He gives FEMA’s four steps to get started, as well as a guide for actions to take after the disaster has passed. Lis also touches on an uneasy situation that managers easily can find themselves in — the ultimate disaster — when someone dies on your property. A restoration professional, Lis has solid tips on how to plan for this unexpected event. • Attorney Matt Drewes, in his article, “Mastering Disaster? How to Handle Insurance Claims,” offers a comprehensive look at the myriad aspects of a claim. This is a must-read to understand ways to protect your property and yourselves throughout this process, plus pitfalls to avoid when expecting an insurance company to cover the damages. • Remediation and restoration specialist Scott Clemente uses a real-life example as evidence in his article, “Managing the Aftermath of a Fire: Once the Fire Department Leaves, Your Work Has Just Begun.” The property manager’s job at this point can be quite complex, but attention to prevention and to response are two of the fundamentals of success. We hope you will find these stories compelling and informative. If just one person or community benefits from this series, I would consider it a job well done. As always, the Communications Committee wants our product to be useful. But with the disaster issue before you today, we hope this is information you will never have to use.