Hurricane Season: Be Prepared
DEAR RESIDENT:
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 letter 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.
The Board of Directors of Waterleaf HOA and KW Property Management & Consulting 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.
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:
Please be advised that at the time a Hurricane Watch is issued, KW Property Management Company and its personnel 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 HVAC equipment and pool/spa pumps. This will assure your systems will be operational after weather conditions return to normal and power has been restored.
PLAN AHEAD
CLEAR PATIOS
Implement as many precautions as practical in advance, such as removing all furniture from your patios, removing and securing all outside items that might become projectiles during the storm, closing hurricane shutters and placing towels on window sills and on the bottom of all exterior doors.
If you are leaving town for any length of time during hurricane season, please remove all patio furniture, plants, loose objects and assign a nearby relative or friend to close the shutters.
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
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/planprepare/hurricane-supply-checklist/
INSURANCE
Review your insurance policies to ensure you are fully covered. Inventory and take pictures of your house and valuables and store photos and documents in water proof container.
SPECIAL NEED RESIDENTS
Special needs residents should be sure to register NOW with the management office. Residents who require special care or special transportation have to register with Emergency Preparedness Office by phone (904) 255-3110.
PLAN YOUR EVACUATION
Have a transportation plan and a pre-planned place to stay during an evacuation. 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.
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 HOA operations will be suspended.
Please also keep in mind that if you do not evacuate, you can expect that there will be no 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!
PLAN TO STAY AWAY
Once evacuated, you should plan on having to stay away for up to a week or more. Government officials will block the return of all persons, except essential emergency personnel, from coming back to the barrier island for up to several days.
LET US DO OUR JOBS
While we know it may be tempting to try and call the property to see how we fared during the storm, please do not do so. Management, Maintenance and the Board will be extremely busy getting things back to normal. Management will mass email periodic updates to all owners and let you know of current conditions and when services have been restored. Please make sure that management has an updated email address for you.
Even if Government officials give the all clear for residents to return, keep in mind that the property may not be ready for you to return, depending on the level of damage incurred, if any. Try to stay away until you hear from us via mass email or the website that it is safe to return.
Updates and news will also be posted on the property’s website at www.waterleafhoa.com.
Thank you for your cooperation and we hope you have an enjoyable and safe summer.
Your Management team and Board of Directors
