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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS... from page 16.

way to avert risk. Draining swimming pools and retention basins ahead of a significant tropical weather event can help avoid damage due to flooding. Participating in Firewise programs that help educate residents and provide access to grant funding to pay for the creation of fire breaks and land- scaping to eliminate ground fuels to reduce the likelihood of forest fires is yet another way to reduce risk. Finally, community associations must develop an internal plan for opera- tions during a large-scale emergency. The Board should create a plan in a predetermined time and location if telecommunications are lost or setting pre-authorizations for various needs are essential protocols to overcome issues such as an extended power loss or cellular communications dis- ruption. Through careful and conscientious risk assessment and avoidance, a community association can prepare for an emergency, survive an event and pick-up the pieces afterwards while reducing the potential for loss. Methodical planning and careful exe- cution along with routine training of all residents is critical to emergency preparedness and can go a long way to increasing resident safety and reducing avoidable risk. n the event communication is lost, Board members are unable to meet and money is required for emergency needs. Back- up communication meth- ods, such as meeting at

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