September is National Preparedness month. Led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this annual campaign reminds everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe. The campaign focuses on how communities can prepare for disasters while dealing with a growing multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies.
The national campaign emphasizes preparation activities for older adults who live alone, are low-income, or have a disability.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS
The Foundation for Community Association Research published a Best Practices Report on Natural Disasters with an emphasis on disaster planning and preparedness for community associations. Every community should have a disaster plan, and this guide will kick-off planning for preparedness.
According to FEMA, natural disasters and severe weather have caused immense damage to communities across the U.S. this year. Wildfires in California, Missouri, Mississippi, and Texas, hurricanes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and floods in Texas have caused considerable damage and upheaval in many communities.
Cleanup and rebuilding will be the primary focus for community associations affected by these disasters. There are steps community managers and boards should take now to increase the possibility of receiving assistance from FEMA for debris removal immediately following a presidentially declared emergency.
DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM PRIVATE COMMUNITIES
If your community owns its roads, they are considered private. FEMA has specific requirements for removing debris from private roads. Debris must be removed by your local municipality; FEMA will not reimburse the community association for debris removal.
If your community association did not submit a right of entry indemnification form prior to the natural disaster, follow these steps before hiring a contractor to remove debris:
- Contact your local municipality as soon as possible and provide it with an example of a resolution the locality may pass to meet the legal obligation of removing debris. Complete a right of entry indemnification form, which FEMA requires for reimbursements.
- Wait for your locality to remove debris since only localities can be reimbursed by FEMA. The community association will not be reimbursed by FEMA for debris removal.
- Hire a private contactor only if you are denied assistance by FEMA.
Debris removal costs can be a financial burden for a community association. CAI believes all community association residents as taxpayers have the right to benefit from federal disaster response, recovery, and mitigation resources. CAI advocates for closer coordination between community associations and FEMA to ensure community association interests are reflected in the design of federal disaster mitigation grants.
ADVOCATE FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE FAIRNESS
H.R. 4669 FEMA Act of 2025 introduces structural reforms to FEMA and the federal disaster response system. It reverses years of bad public policy by allowing FEMA federal disaster funds to be used to remove debris from private roads and waterways in community associations following federally declared natural disasters.
CAI is responsible for crafting the language in Section 107 – Common Sense Debris Removal – of H.R. 4669 to align with H.R. 834, the Disaster Assistance Fairness Act. While Section 107 is not as comprehensive as the Disaster Assistance Fairness Act, which CAI supports, it creates a foundation for a new, fairer system of disaster assistance that includes community associations. The proposal allows for debris removal from association roads and waterways.
National Weather Service Guidance for Homeowners and Associations
The National Weather Service also issued comprehensive guidance for homeowners and associations that include these simple steps:
- Learn Your Risks & Responses – Be informed.
- Sign up for weather and news emergency alerts.
- Follow social media platforms related to disaster updates
- Familiarize yourself with shelter and evacuation plans in your region.
- Make your plan.
- Build a supply kit.
- Support community peers during response periods.
Federal & National Resources for Community Boards and Managers
- FEMA’s Ready.gov site – https://www.ready.gov/
- FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team program – https://www.ready.gov/cert
- American Red Cross Emergency App – https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html
- NOAA Emergency Alerts & Weather Radios – https://www.weather.gov/nwr/
