August2017

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Proactive Risk Assessment and Reduction By Christopher Nicosia, CMCA, AMS, MM Prime Management, Inc. AAMC

A lmost five years later, New Jersey is still recover- ing from and evaluating the effects of Superstorm Sandy. In particular, various governmental and civic organizations continue to assess the successes and failures that resulted from pre-storm preparations and post storm recovery as well as emergency management deci- sions that were made during the event. Community asso- ciations throughout New Jersey felt the effects of the storm, whether it was direct effects like wind, flooding and debris or indirect effects like extended power outages and loss of telecommunications. The effects of Superstorm Sandy are still being felt even to this day with some people still not back in their homes and many in NJ paying higher insurance pre- miums as a result of the over $65 billion dollars in damage. In fact, Superstorm Sandy is the third most costly natural disaster in U.S. history behind only Hurricane Katrina, which cost an estimated $147 billion and the drought of 1988, which cost $75 billion (according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration). It is

these stagger- ing costs that insurance compa- nies define as “risk” when combined with the likeli-

hood of occurrence. Another Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Floyd, Hurricane Irene or other natural disaster can happen at any time and preparation is the key to risk avoidance in the future. In order to prepare for emergencies, community associa- tions must first assess what emergencies are likely to affect them. Is the community oceanfront? Is the community located in an area susceptible to forest fires? Is there a dam upstream of the community? Is the community in a tornado-prone area? Is the community located in an area susceptible to crippling snowfall? Is the community in a flood zone? Is the community at risk for after effects of a terrorist attack? By evaluating the region the community is located in and identifying the various risks, the com-

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"In order to prepare for emergencies, community associations must first assess what emergencies are likely to affect them."

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