NMHC’s Hurricane Resource Center remains the best place to get news related to the storms, however, this document compiles in one place resources of primary interest to apartment owners and operators.
Pre-Storm Preparations
- NMHC's Hurricane Resources for Apartment Residents
- NMHC also has general emergency preparedness resources available
- Community managers are also advised to check the websites of their state emergency management agency for additional information
- The Texas Apartment Association has created a helpful hurricane checklist
- Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience. A collection of 19 practical strategies for building owners to make their properties more resilient against the effects of extreme weather events.
- Follow FEMA in Real Time
FEMA’s Twitter feed (follow @fema) includes breaking storm news, including info on the storm’s progress, emergency tips and tools, shelters and more. You can also download the FEMA Mobile App to receive important storm alerts, safety tips, shelter locations and more.
- Prepare Your Property and Get Up to Speed on Hurricane Basics
NMHC firms should consult and follow FEMA’s Hurricane Ready Business Toolkit to prepare for this and future storms. Additionally, NMHC’s Hurricane Resources for Apartment Owners guide provides critical information ranging from property operations and preparedness to loan issues. Lastly, this resource from Ready.gov explains what to do when there’s hurricane watch or warning alert for your local area and provides tips on what to do before, during and after a hurricane.
Operations Resources/Guidance
- HUD Multifamily Disaster Guidance. Details regulatory/policy relief available during a disaster as well as policies on occupancy standards, vacant units, evictions, Section 8 residents and more.
- Checklist from New Orleans Apartment Association based on lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina.
Loan Issues
- Firms who have properties that were damaged by the storm should start by contacting their loan servicer as soon as possible.
- FHA Housing Notice 04-22, Disaster Recovery Guidance by Multifamily Housing After a Presidentially Declared Disaster
- HUD Multifamily Disaster Guidance. Details loan servicing, insurance loss drafts, use of owner reserves, and more.
- Fannie Mae: FAQ on Multifamily MBS after Catastrophic Events.
Recovery Resources
- National Flood Insurance Program. NFIP policyholders are encouraged to contact their insurance company and report a flood claim as soon as possible. If you aren’t sure if you have flood insurance with the National Flood Insurance Program or you don’t know your agent or company of if you have an NFIP Direct policy, call 1-800-621-3362, select option 2, and speak with the NFIP call center. The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585.
- You can review the NFIP Claims Handbook for more details on what to do before a flood and what to do after a flood.
- Housing Choice Voucher Units. Owners with units rented to housing choice voucher holders should know that PHAs have flexibility on the deadline to conduct repairs where “deficiencies are not life-threatening and the unit is habitable. (See page 30 of this HUD FAQ).
- Post-Disaster Healthy Housing Resources. HUD portal for information on addressing environmental hazards, such as mold, radon, asbestos, lead and more during the renovation process.
- DisasterAssistance.gov. This federal website offers information on more than 70 forms of assistance from 17 federal agencies.
General Resources
- HUD Disaster Resources
- FAQs: HUD’s Role in Federally Declared Disasters. Explains HUD’s role and authority in federal disasters and how it interacts with FEMA.
- The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Defines federal response and recovery assistance available after major disasters and sets the conditions for obtaining that assistance.
Florida Hurricane Resources
- Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Florida Apartment Association
- South East Florida Apartment Association
- Apartment Association of Greater Orlando
- North Central Florida Apartment Association
- South West Florida Apartment Association
Georgia Hurricane Resources
- Georgia Apartment Association
- Apartment Association of Greater Augusta
- Athens Apartment Association
- Atlanta Apartment Association
- Coastal Georgia Apartment Association
- Greater Columbus Apartment Association
- Mid Georgia Apartment Association
North Carolina Hurricane Resources
- Apartment Association of North Carolina
- Apartment Association of Western North Carolina
- Greater Charlotte Apartment Association
- Greater Fayetteville Apartment Association
- Piedmont Triad Apartment Association
- Triangle Apartment Association
- Wilmington Apartment Association
South Carolina Hurricane Resources
- Apartment Association of Greater Columbia
- Charleston Apartment Association
- Greater Charlotte Apartment Association
- Myrtle Beach Apartment Association
- Upper State Apartment Association
Louisiana Hurricane Resources
- Acadiana Apartment Association
- Baton Rouge Apartment Association
- Northeast Louisiana Apartment Association
- Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans
