by Elizabeth Bessette / Published Jul 2015
With the 2015 hurricane season in full swing, the need for an updated hurricane preparedness plan is imminent. Fortunately for Florida residents, a big name storm hasn’t breached the shores of our state’s coasts in nearly nine years, but homeowners associations, condominiums, and communities should still discuss how they will react in the event of a bad storm or hurricane. Envera Systems, specializing in Next Generation Security®, encourages proactive measures and has prepared in-depth solutions and procedures for its own hurricane preparedness plan.
Elizabeth Bessette
Marketing and Sales Analyst, Envera Systems
As an analyst in marketing and sales, Elizabeth Bessette has been working at Envera Systems since September 2014. With a background in marketing and event planning, she has combined her passion for design with Envera’s dedication to top performing security systems. Her responsibilities include creating new magazine, video, and advertising content; launching e-mail campaigns; and organizing tradeshow events throughout Florida. Envera Systems specializes in security technology systems combined with remote guards to replace or enhance guards at communities. Contact Info: (855) 936-8372 or www.EnveraSystems.com.
• Before the storm: have maintenance staff clear any common areas of debris and secure items such as pool equipment, lounge chairs, and umbrellas. Send out announcements letting the community know where they can access information such as popular numbers of contacts to call after the storm for help.
• Know who will secure the guardhouses, clubhouses, and any other buildings maintained by the community. Part of a successful plan is knowing who in the community will be responsible to secure and confirm the preparation of the community’s general use assets. Many times the property management team will play this role, but it is the duty of the HOA’s board to confirm that all facilities and assets are properly secured.
• Know when any on-site security guards will no longer occupy the premises and have a plan for when they will return. Part of your planning should include a written timetable from your security provider as to how quickly will security staff return to their posts after a storm.
• Back up all security databases and video footage prior to a storm hitting. Having off-site backups of your community’s security assets is paramount. After the storm and during the rebuilding phase, it is important that your security provider be able to reinstitute all security systems as quickly as possible. With remote, off-site backups, this can begin immediately and without losing valuable configuration, monitoring, and archiving capabilities.
Communities protected by Envera can rest assured that if a disaster strikes, their security provider can recover quickly thanks to advanced planning and thorough testing. Regardless of who protects your community, take the time to ensure you and your neighbors are prepared for what this hurricane season may bring.