Natural disasters such as seasonal storms can pose as a hindrance to everyday life. Others feel different and are left traumatized following the loss of property.
Homeowners have a lot to deal with when preparing for disasters and their aftermath. Similarly, people who choose to rent a property are not spared from the effects of said natural disasters. Both landowners and tenants have responsibilities to follow in the event of unforeseen consequences brought about by natural disasters. These steps can ensure the safety of those around you and your belongings.
Communication
As an apartment dweller, It is your responsibility as a tenant to be aware of how people in your area communicate and get updates. You need to find out how news goes around and how to contact other people. If you feel the means of communication aren’t adequate, let your landlord or property owner know about it. It’s better to be aware of your surroundings instead of reacting to a flood.
Know Your Role
Families at home assign individual members what they have to do in the event of disasters. As an apartment resident, come up with your plan in case there are power outages and heavy storms. Coordinate with your landowner the roles and responsibilities of tenants in emergencies. These measures can save lives and reduce further damage that can be done to properties and possessions. A tenant dependent on electricity for healthcare, for example, will need a reliable source of power. Disasters like flooding also don’t cover renter’s insurance, so be ready with your policy to cover your belongings.
Evacuation
Plan and communicate with your landlord and neighbors about an evacuation plan. It is essential to understand your apartment’s unique circumstances to plan better and use the tools available at your disposal. Upon reaching safety, check the status of other tenants and ensure the safety of those around you.
For landowners, it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of tenants and take greater measures for disaster preparedness. If you are a landlord, these are a few steps to remember when natural disasters strike:
- Ensure the safety of the property by installing shutters for storms and hurricanes. Trees in precarious positions can be taken care of by tree removal experts in Lehi, Utah for greater peace of mind.
- Communicate with tenants to follow evacuation procedures and instructions for disaster preparedness
- Be aware of insurance claims and follow up on them
- Assess the damages after the calamity
Aside from these steps, here are quick tips for tenants and landlords to remember for each type of disaster:
Floods and Storms
Prepare and advise tenants to keep emergency supplies when the power goes down. When major flooding occurs, seek higher ground immediately and have flood insurance if you don’t have any. Have protective measures as well to reduce property damage.
Fire
Incidents of fire require a well planned and coordinated escape plan. Follow safety measures such as turning off gas and removing curtains. Like floods, prepare emergency supply kits and encourage tenants to photograph their belongings for claims processing.
Natural disasters are hard to predict and require preparation and cooperation. Recovering from a disaster means going through the recovery process and assessing the damages. Require tenants to have renters insurance to help them protect their belongings. As a landlord, file insurance claims after disasters and consult with insurance experts on what coverage can benefit you the most.