Fire!
This is one of the most horrific words in the English language.
Fires occasionally do happen, however, and to make it through such
a disaster, preparedness is the key. However, something rarely
considered in a contingency plan is the affect such a disaster
will have on the lives of the people involved. Many communities
have been diligent in establishing a disaster/fire plan but often
do not take into account the short or long term affects of a disaster
on the individuals involved. It is unfortunate that such plans
are never contemplated until a disaster or fire actually occurs.
While large scale disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes affect
multiple units and families and require special preparedness planning,
disaster plans should also include scenarios for smaller catastrophes
such as a fire contained to one or a few units.
A fire will immediately displace, at the very least,
the residents of a home. There is often a complete, or nearly complete,
loss of possessions. While insurance can pay for the replacement
of physical items, it cannot replace the emotional loss that accompanies
an occurrence of this nature. Taking into consideration the movement
toward building a sense of community within community associations,
the impact of a fire on a member, or members, of a community association
is a very important aspect of this concept. The association's response
to these emotional aspects of a fire will be a true measure of
the inroads being made in building that sense of community. This
is the time for a community to come together and embrace the victims
of
the fire.
Just as preparedness is the key to the smooth rebuilding and replacement
of physical possessions, preparedness is also the key to reducing,
as much as possible, the negative emotional impact of a fire. Before
such an occurrence happens, the manager and board of directors
should adopt a disaster/fire plan that includes advocacy for the
fire victims. Such plans should include:
- A volunteer, or volunteers, appointed in advance who would
make their best effort to meet with and support the victims as
the fire is occurring. The victims often have to leave their
homes with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing. Who
these volunteers are should be communicated to the members of
the association through their newsletter and website. This information,
too, should be made a part of the community's disaster/fire plan.
Something that may be useful is for the Association to publish
an article suggesting that Co-owners make a list to keep in their
purse or wallet, as well as giving a copy to a trusted neighbor
or two, sealed in an envelope to be opened in case of an emergency.
The list could include such information as the names and phone
numbers of some relatives who live nearby; their homeowners'
insurance company name and emergency number, as well as their
policy number; their car insurance company name and emergency
number, along with the policy number, driver's license numbers,
etc. It might also be prudent to include a copy of the vehicle
registrations; their health insurance company name and numbers,
as well as their group number, contract number, etc.
- The victims may need coats or blankets to keep warm; paper
and pencil to make notes; plus many other items considered basic
necessities that are often taken for granted. The association
should plan for the immediate availability of items such as these.
- Communication is vital and must be made available immediately.
Information on how
to contact the victims' relatives, requested in advance,
should be kept on-site and be
readily available. A cell phone should also be immediately
accessible and available to the victims.
- The association volunteers should check to make sure that
the victim has successfully contacted relatives or friends
and that they are immediately available to offer assistance.
If they are not readily available, the volunteers should
continue to be available as necessary.
- Although alternative housing is the victims' responsibility
in most cases, the association volunteers can assist them in
locating such housing. It is helpful to have researched this
in advance. Perhaps the volunteers would agree, in advance, to
open their homes while arrangements are being made. Part of the
disaster/fire plan could also include names and phone numbers
for reputable hotels or motels in the immediate area. This information
could then be passed on to the victims.
- Transportation may also be an issue at the time of the
fire and, of course, is another responsibility of the victims.
The association, however, can certainly be of assistance
by contacting a taxi company for the victims. Information, researched
in advance, relative to rental vehicles would also be very
useful and could be made a part of the disaster/fire plan.
- A small package of non-perishable food items can also be made
readily available for the victims. Again, research in advance
relative to local restaurants and their locations will be helpful
to the victims.
Some of these things like phone numbers for friends and relatives
or local motel and restaurant locations may seem matter of fact,
however, it must be remembered that the victims will be distraught
and under considerable stress immediately following a fire and
they may have difficulty remembering even simple things.
This writer sincerely hopes that your Association will never actually
have to respond to such an emergency situation. However, just as
the Association is prepared for the “sticks and bricks” aspect
of a fire, the Association needs to emphasize the preparedness
in supporting the well-being of its members should such an unfortunate
event occur. The variations in Associations may require modification
of these suggestions. Following the concepts contained herein,
Associations should more easily be able to compile a victim well-being
plan.
For years there has been a tendency for Associations to shy away
from any hint of liability. This has caused Associations to take
the position that the member victims were on their own once the
Association's responsibility under the governing documents was
fulfilled. It's time, however, for compassion and humanity to play
a role in putting back the community in the community association.
