We are amid yet another hurricane season. (Along the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane season runs June through November). As recent history has taught us, locations that rarely experienced damages in the past are now at notable risk. The resources below can help owners of mixed portfolios take precautions to reduce risks to occupants and property. Rising Risks Overall, the cost of hurricane season has increased over the past several decades. Cost increases are beyond the normal adjustments for inflation. Storms are causing more widespread damages for a complicated combination of reasons. Data sets from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggest that warmer oceans fuel stronger hurricanes. Rising sea levels also contribute to more catastrophic flooding. Poor graywater management and diminishing green spaces broaden flood zones and prolong the time it takes for floodwaters to recede. What might this mean for you? Properties outside of recognized flood zones face greater risks than they did 20 years ago. Properties that were not impacted by hurricane winds before may now need additional protections. Fortunately, it’s not too late to minimize risks to your properties and their occupants. Advanced Preparation Take time to review your insurance information. Ensure that your property is up to date on insurance coverage that includes flood protection. This will cover your property whether it is in the direct path of the hurricane or areas that experience flooding related to a far-off storm. Category 1 and 2 hurricanes sustain winds of 74-110 mph, per the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Be sure that your plan for storm damage includes winds of at least 74 mph for the most complete coverage. Hurricane Preparation to Reduce Risks to Mixed Portfolios Preparation is key to reducing damage...
Weather Preparedness
Senior Living Industry Focus
One nerve-wracking decision many facility administrators face during an emergency is whether to keep residents on site, or begin evacuations. When both options appear equally risky, it helps to take stock of the current locale and determine whether you have the necessary resources to provide adequate care for your residents. Make sure the facility’s security has not been compromised, and that backup power supplies are functioning properly. Review supplies, inventory medications, and make an account of all medical equipment. Survey staff to make sure you have enough hands on deck to meet all resident needs. Finally, consult with local agencies, including fire and police, to determine whether it is safer to stay or go. In some cases, the safest course of action is to transport residents and staff to another location. It is essential to establish in advance how relocation will be coordinated. Prioritize resident evacuation so that those with special needs can receive adequate medical attention during the move. Keep your list of relocation sites regularly updated, including transportation routes and contact information for ambulance and security services. Equally important is providing alternative transportation for offsite staff in the event an emergency restricts public transportation. Teri Marinko, senior vice president of customer engagement at Boston-based Benchmark Senior Living faced just that situation during the Boston Marathon Bombing when the city shut down public transit. As she told Caring.com, the takeaway lesson was clear, “During an emergency, it’s particularly important to make sure there is a plan to transport staff to the facility.” Keeping Contact It’s always a good idea to make the residents and their family aware of your safety procedures so that during times of crisis everyone understands what’s happening and how to make contact or gather additional information about residents. Mitigate...
Surviving the Drought
Water-saving tips for multifamily
Rain and snow in California have been so scarce over the last three years that about 95 percent of the state is in drought. Along environmental challenges, the ongoing drought has led to a stressed water system which menaces everything from local economies to agriculture and day-to-day living. And although there’s been a slight improvement with the heavy rains in Northern California this month, the state’s water supplies have dipped to alarming levels. The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is the major source of water and a significant source of electric power generation in California, is approximately 20 percent of the normal average for this date, according to official statements. California’s major river systems, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, have significantly reduced surface water flows; and groundwater levels throughout the state have dropped significantly. Governor Jerry Brown Jr. urged all Californians last month to voluntarily reduce water usage by 20 percent. “We can’t make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” said Governor Brown. “I’ve declared this emergency and I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.” Cloverdale and Healdsburg in Sonoma County, Willits in Mendocino County, the small Lompico Water District in the Santa Cruz Mountains as well as several other rural communities in the area may face severe water shortages in the next 60 to 100 days due to excessive drought conditions, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). President Obama has recently travelled to drought-stricken California to offer support and pledged to provide approximately $183 million in drought relief funds; the money will go toward things such as livestock disaster assistance for producers, conservation and helping rural communities with vulnerable water systems. “California’s message to the President today is loud and clear: we need to work together and take immediate action to respond to this drought”, said Ann Notthoff, director of California advocacy for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Californians overwhelming agree that investing in irrigation technologies, water conservation and recycling and local water resiliency are among the strategies that will reduce the effects of this drought and will also make California more drought resilient in the future.” “A federal climate resilience fund will help us meet those goals. State and local funding and planning will also be critical. We look forward to the President and Governor Brown working together to ensure we’re helping Californians get through the drought today while becoming better prepared for a drier future to come,” Notthoff added. While state and local officials continue to work on long-term solutions to water challenges around the country, it’s imperative that we all take an active stand on the matter. By promoting responsible water consumption among community residents, property managers can significantly contribute to stretching the nation’s water supplies. Water-saving efforts have done wonders for Southern Nevada for example, where practically all water used indoors, from home dishwashers to the toilets and bathtubs used by the 40 million tourists who reportedly visit Las Vegas each year, is treated and returned to Lake Mead, The New York Times reports. Since 2002 when the drought response plan was first developed, Southern Nevada has reduced its water demand from about 314 gallons per person per day to about 219 GPCD (gallons per capita per day) in 2012. There are tons of easy ways to conserve water both indoors and outdoors. The Save Our Water program, a partnership between the California Department of Water Resources and the Association of California Water Agencies, brings forth an array of tools and resources to help consumers reduce their water use, regardless of whether California is in a drought. Start with taking care of the outdoors. Outdoor landscaping, which plays a big role in enhancing a property’s curb...
