Protect your tenants and your multifamily investment by making a hurricane preparedness plan today
From June through November, Florida’s hurricane season brings heightened risk for multifamily properties, especially in August and September, when storms are strongest. Being proactive can help protect both your investment and the safety of your tenants.
Join us as we explore how to prepare your property, protect your tenants, and minimize recovery time when the next big storm hits.
Keep your tenants informed
When it comes to hurricane prep, clear communication with tenants is one of your most important responsibilities.
Start by making sure you have current contact information for all residents, including emergency contacts. Then, distribute a simple hurricane preparedness guide specific to your property. Include:
- Local evacuation routes and shelter options
- Emergency contact numbers and websites
- What tenants should (and shouldn’t) expect from management during a storm
If you don’t already use a mass notification system, consider setting one up to send alerts by text or email. This is the easiest way to keep residents informed and safe when timing matters most.
Walk the property before the storms
A quick visual inspection won’t cut it. Set time aside before hurricane season begins to evaluate your property and identify vulnerabilities thoroughly.
What to look for:
- Loose shingles or roof damage
- Cracks or gaps around windows and doors
- Clogged gutters or drainage issues
- Dead branches or overgrown trees
- Unsecured outdoor items or heavy objects
Making these repairs now can help prevent significant losses later.
Related resource:
How to conduct due diligence for multifamily investments
Take action when a storm is approaching
When a hurricane is in the forecast, your priority shifts to securing the property and minimizing potential damage.
Your pre-storm checklist:
- Empty all communal trash dumpsters
- Tie down or store pool and patio furniture
- Trim back any trees or large shrubs
- Remove signage or other loose outdoor items
- Ask tenants to bring in anything on their balconies
- Take time-stamped photos of the entire property
If your building has backup generators or sump pumps, test them ahead of time to ensure they’re in working order.
Focus on safety and communication after the storm
Once the storm passes and it’s safe to return, act quickly but carefully.
- Inspect the property for damage, flooding, or safety hazards
- Document all issues with photos and video for insurance claims
- Notify tenants about any safety concerns, cleanup efforts, or repairs
- Prioritize essential services like power, water, and HVAC restoration
This is also when your trusted vendor network becomes critical. Having relationships with reliable contractors in advance can speed up the recovery process.
Learn and improve for next time
Every storm is different, but each one can teach you something. Once your tenants are safe and essential services are restored, take time to review how your plan held up. What worked well? What caught you off guard? Use these insights to strengthen your approach for the future.
Even a few small adjustments now can make a big difference next season.
Our advice: start prepping now!
The most successful multifamily property owners plan months in advance, not days. From proactive repairs to clear tenant communication, everything you do ahead of time will help reduce stress, protect your asset, and ensure a faster recovery.
How we can help
With many years of in-depth industry experience, our team of trusted multifamily experts is committed to helping investors secure the results they want from their multifamily property. You can learn more about how we help our clients here.
Looking for the best hurricane preparation resource?
Visit our Resources page to download our FREE hurricane preparedness checklist for multifamily owners!
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