As a property manager or home owner, you should be prepared for El Nino. Forecasters are predicting one of the strongest El Nino’s in recent years, and Southern California is one of the main regions that will feel the impact. The article below is geared towards property managers, but home owners should also be prepared for the season ahead.

The information below is from www.PropertyManager.com and the complete article can be found here

1.  Make sure that property insurance policies are current with adequate coverage. One of the things that you don’t want to happen is for a catastrophic weather event to occur and you’re your current policy is inadequate or lapsed.

2.  Make a point of checking windows and entryways, repairing or replacing loose panes, bent storm windows, or inadequate weather stripping.

3.  Check roofs for any loose shingles or potential leaks and repair them promptly.

4.  Walk the grounds and check for loose branches, damaged or dead trees, or other landscaping that could pose a hazard during a brutal winter storm.

5.  If your properties are in a low-lying area, be prepared for the possibility of extensive flooding from extended periods of rainfall. This can include everything from having sandbags ready to be deployed, to having an escape route planned out for residents in case of catastrophic flooding.

6.  Be prepared for other events such as loss of power for extended periods of time – which can mean no heat in some areas. Again, having an emergency plan can help.

7.  Stock up on flashlights, blankets, and non-perishable food items, and advise your residents to do the same.

8.  Be sure to convey this information on a timely basis to your residents; perhaps holding a special information day, or distributing emergency and evacuation plans with monthly rental receipts.