“We can’t do anything to prevent the monsoon, but we can prepare.”  Weldon B. Johnson, The Republic | azcentral.com With summertime comes monsoon season, you never know when a big dust storm or heavy torrential downpour may hit! Is your Association prepared? Today is a good time to put a plan in place for your Association if you don’t have one, or to review your plan if you haven’t done so in a while.

The importance of an emergency plan…

How can YOUR community association plan for a natural event?

The board of directors, with the assistance of a committee, may want to look at the possibilities of a disaster and what it might do to the community.

What should your association emergency plan look like? The Red Cross is a valuable resource and can help with an assessment to determine the risks the association might face, how to prepare for them and what to do following a natural disaster. Find information at: http://www.redcross.org/find-help. Additionally, the federal government has information on how to plan for emergencies at https://www.ready.gov/southwest.

If it is determined that a disaster plan is necessary, the next step is to fully develop the plan and put it in writing. Include association members, local police and ask for information from first responders in the processes to develop the plan. With community buy-in the plan is more likely to be viable and succeed, should it become necessary to implement.

When the plan is developed and in writing, it is important to communicate with the members of the association. Use the association’s website, newsletters and bulletin boards to post the plan, and be sure that all association members receive a copy. The association may want to draw attention to the plan each year at the annual meeting.

With luck, your association will not need to implement a disaster plan. However, being prepared should something happen gives the board of directors and association members direction and a sense of peace.

Emergency meetings…

If an emergency strikes (such as flooding or monsoon/microburst damage) that requires immediate board action, the association has the right to notice a meeting. In these circumstances, the board can suspend the 48 hours notice of meeting to the membership required by Arizona law and conduct an emergency board meeting. Under Arizona law (A.R.S.33-1804 and condo A.R.S. 33-1248), an emergency meeting of the board of directors may be called to discuss business or take action that cannot be delayed until the next regularly scheduled board meeting. The minutes of the emergency meeting shall state the reason necessitating the emergency meeting. The minutes of the emergency meeting shall be read and approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors.

Under the new law that becomes effective on August 9, 2017, at an emergency meeting called by the board of directors, the board of directors may act only on emergency matters.

Lastly…

In the event that there is an emergency in the association caused by a natural disaster, the board should immediately reach out to their legal counsel, insurance agency and management company to get advice on how to proceed.

Although we at Mulcahy Law Firm, P.C. hope for a calm monsoon season and a mild summer, should you need us – we’ll be here for your board.