You've faced an emergency in your property portfolio. How will you ensure it never happens again?

Create a detailed emergency response plan that outlines specific actions to take in various scenarios. This plan should include clear roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, and evacuation procedures. Regularly update and review this plan to incorporate new insights and best practices. Ensure all staff and relevant parties are trained on the emergency response plan. These drills will help identify any weaknesses in the plan and ensure everyone knows their role and responsibilities during an emergency. Ensure all staff and relevant parties are trained on the emergency response plan. These drills will help identify any weaknesses in the plan and ensure everyone knows their role and responsibilities during an emergency.

In the property management world, we see emergencies such as loss of heat, a gas leak, a water leak causing flooding in the property, etc. – basically, the emergencies are anything that endanger a tenant’s well-being. A disaster would be a major flood, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, landslide, earthquake, or some other natural act of nature. This year, once again, many parts of the country have suffered devastating events that no one can stop, or even predict, such as fires, flooding etc. Since you cannot avoid many emergencies or disasters, the only choice in our business is to be prepared with emergency procedures for when they happen. Create a detailed emergency response plan that outlines specific actions to take in various scenarios.

I believe that having an emergency response plan that is detailed and outlines several different scenarios is important. In addition, regular training on these scenarios such as live drills and tabletop exercises is just as important to maintain swift action by your team in a time of need.

Yes it’s called a hot wash . It’s not new. In any emergency response you use strategy and tactics. You then evaluate those actions.

I agree with Jezlyne's point that emergencies can't be completely prevented, it's just a reality of managing property portfolios. The title of this thread might be a bit misleading because it suggests we can stop emergencies altogether. Instead, we should focus on minimising improving ours (and the tenants) response strategies. This involves risk assessment and ensuring regular maintenance to catch issues before they escalate. Ultimately, it's about preparing ourselves and our tenants, rather than trying to avoid the unavoidable.

I would agree with this statement. As I stated previously, live drills and tabletop exercises are vital. They allow for different perspectives of incidents and allow to vulnerabilities to come to light.

Regular inspections and proactive maintenance are crucial in property management, especially in NYC coops and condos. By engaging a consultant who assist in getting ahead of issues to prevent costly emergencies and ensure the longevity of your property. Additionally, taking a holistic approach as opposed to only taking care of emergencies can enhance the building's efficiency and appeal, aligning with modern sustainability trends.

As with any environment, prevention and proactive processes minimize costs downstream. Choosing a property management firm that is consistent in response to fixing broken items or doing consistent walk throughs for auditing is a key consideration. Document all repairs or equipment replacement so if these items continue to have issues, may consider buying updated items or consider removing.

Educating your tenants is an often overlooked aspect of emergency preparedness. They need to know what to do in an emergency, whom to contact, and how to minimize risks. Provide them with clear guidelines and information on emergency procedures. Teach them practical skills, such as how to shut off water or gas in case of a leak. Informed tenants are your allies in effectively preventing and responding to emergencies. By empowering them with knowledge and clear instructions, you create a safer environment and ensure that everyone is better prepared to handle potential crises.

Having regular meetings with tenants about emergency response is important. Providing tenants with a basic, yet detailed guideline and maintaining open communication is the best practice.