By Geoff Roberts, Buildium, Boston, MA

We all had it drilled into our heads as kids: Better safe than sorry! Whether it was through fire drills or being told to wear a helmet when riding my bike, hearing this phrase is amongst my earliest memories. It may sound elementary, but it’s still true. And the same goes for your property. Having property emergency preparedness plans in place will help mitigate Emergency Plan Checklistdamage and protect the safety of your tenants in case of an unexpected event.

What kind of plans do I need? 

You will need to have a plan on hand in the event of fires, floods, earthquakes, and other unforeseen emergencies that may potentially apply to your region. Tenants need to know not only how to evacuate the building, but also what to do in cases where they must remain inthe building as a disastrous event occurs (such as an earthquake).

In addition to outlining what residents should do in case of emergency, you will also need a solid plan of action for yourself and/or other responsible parties. Know what tasks must be performed and who is responsible for completing them.

How do I create emergency plans for my property?

 Your insurance agent, local fire department, local police department, and Red Cross may all have resources that can help you formulate your own emergency preparedness program. Additionally, professional property management associations, networking groups, or colleagues may be able to provide guidance.

With that in mind, following are some items every emergency preparedness plan should cover:

Additionally, you and other responsible parties should know:

How do I spread the word to tenants? 

Provide all tenants with pertinent emergency preparedness information upon move-in when all other paperwork is distributed. In addition to this, you will also want to update them in writing on an as-necessary basis when information changes. It may also be worth re-distributing this information on an annual basis to make sure it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle as time goes on.

Of course, we all hope that none of these plans will ever have to be put into action. But for your own and your tenants’ best interest, it’s vital to know exactly what to do … just in case


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