Hurricane Preparation for Multifamily Properties

Pre-cut plywood panels, hurricane shutters, or impact-resistant film should be inventoried and labeled for every ground-floor and exposed window before hurricane season begins. Properties with 50+ units need a staged deployment plan — identify which buildings get boarded first based on wind exposure and glass type. Tell Projects pre-cuts and stores panels off-site for portfolio clients so installation begins within hours of a watch announcement.

Roof inspections, gutter clearing, and flashing repairs must happen in April or May — not after the first named storm. Seal all penetrations (HVAC curbs, plumbing vents, satellite mounts). Install or verify sump pumps in below-grade units. Stock sandbags for ground-level entries. Test backflow preventers on storm drains. One inch of standing water in 20 units can exceed $500,000 in remediation costs.

Walk every building and photograph the current condition of roofs, siding, windows, and common areas before storm season. Date-stamped photos are the single most valuable tool for accelerating insurance claims. Maintain a master binder — digital and physical — with policy numbers, adjuster contacts, contractor pre-authorization letters, and a unit-by-unit condition report.

Have signed emergency-response agreements with your restoration contractor, tree service, and board-up crew before you need them. After a major storm, every contractor in the metro is booked for weeks. Tell Projects offers priority-response agreements for multifamily clients — guaranteed on-site within 24 hours of storm clearance for tarping, water extraction, and debris removal.

Distribute a hurricane preparedness packet to every household by May 31. Include evacuation routes, shelter locations, property management emergency numbers, and instructions for securing balconies. Use text/email blasts for real-time updates during active storms. Post-storm, communicate re-entry timelines and document any unit-level damage before residents return.