Disaster Planning for Condo Associations

It’s 2:00 o’clock in the morning when you are awoken from your peaceful slumber by a panicky unit owner. A pipe burst in the upstairs unit and now water is gushing into her condo down below. What do you do? Who do you call in that hour of the morning?

Disasters cannot always be prevented, and they most certainly are not planned, but you can put safety measures in place beforehand.

Disaster Planning Preventative Measures

1. 1. Sewage & Water Backup: This is a relatively low cost add-on to your condo association’s master policy that protects you should water backup in the sewer lines and cause damage to your condo complex. Some older buildings are prone to water collecting in the basement, particularly after repeated rainstorms where the ground is already saturated with rain water. Sump pumps are often used to divert that excess water outside, but if it fails, the sump pump won’t be covered unless you have coverage with your insurance company.
   2. Flood Insurance: Your condo complex may not be in a high-risk flood zone, but that does not mean you’re out of danger. Even low-risk areas can become flooded.
   3. French Drain: These ditches lined with rocks and gravel help to divert water away from an area. If your complex is known to collect excess amounts of water in certain places, it might be worth installing as part of your disaster safety plan.
   4. Inspections: Your sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, smoke alarm systems, and anything else in your building that alerts you to possible water damage or fire should be inspected annually to ensure they’re up to code.

Cleaning Up After a Disaster

If you are insured through H&K Insurance, we partner with fantastic restoration companies that will visit your complex, assess the damages, and work with the carrier to pay out what is needed to restore your building – providing it’s a covered loss. Most restoration companies offer 24/7 disaster services, which means you’ll have a team to help you should you receive that 2:00 AM phone call!

We recommend that property managers keep a binder with 24-hour emergency contacts on hand. Also, be sure to share your disaster planning contacts with your condominium owners, particularly board members, so they know who to contact in the event of an emergency. When time is of the essence, it’s important everyone knows what to do before disaster strikes!

Brendon Kilcoyne, Sales Manager for H&K Insurance Agency Inc. services condo associations and individual condo owners throughout the Greater Boston Area. With over 15 years’ experience providing coverage to personal and business clients, H&K is aptly known as a pioneer in the insurance industry finding and administering the best combination of coverage and service for the right price. Call him at 617-612-6504 to discuss your options today!