Reminder of Procedures in the Event of Property Damage and/or Resident Displacement caused by a Severe Weather Event

• By: admin
• On: 06/10/2020 14:51:06
• In: HUD News

Reminder of Procedures in the Event of Property Damage and/or Resident Displacement caused by a Severe Weather Event

The Multifamily Southeast Region wants to remind you of the procedures and tools available for owners and residents impacted by Severe Weather Events.  This information will make post-recovery efforts go more smoothly if an event occurs that impacts your property and/or your residents.
 
The Department of HUD has a website with information and guidance.  Multifamily Housing Guidance for Disaster Recovery is available at: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/disasterguide.  HUD encourages you to review this website before an event occurs. Owners should also make plans to address responsive actions needed as it relates to the current pandemic situation.
 
Following an event that impacts residents and/or properties, HUD has reporting obligations based on information our staff obtains from Owners and Management Agents of HUD insured and/or assisted properties.  Owners and Management Agents are obligated to always immediately report physical damage to a property interior or exterior that has resulted from a fire, flood, wind, severe cold, or other natural disaster or weather event.  It is most convenient for all parties if Owners and Agents proactively report to HUD.  Owners are encouraged to complete and forward damage assessments forms to HUD.  Please use the form applicable to your situation: 
 

• For a FEMA Declared Emergency or Disaster:   Preliminary Disaster Assessment Form (Appendix A-3 of Chapter 38 of Handbook 4350.1.)  
• For an Event not declared by FEMA:  Basic Damage Assessment Form

 
Please forward the appropriate Assessment Form within 24 hours of the damage occurrence.  Either form should be legibly handwritten or typewritten and emailed to:
 
AtlantaDisasterAssistance@hud.gov for properties assigned to an Account Executive reporting to the Atlanta Regional Office,
DamageAssessmentsFlorida@hud.gov for properties assigned to an Account Executive reporting to the Jacksonville Satellite Office.
 
To find your assigned Account Executive, please look at the list provided under the state in which your property is located at https://www.hud.gov/states/georgia/working/localpo/mfhsg
 
Updated reports should be submitted as additional information becomes available concerning resident displacement or regarding the level/amount of damage sustained.  While the Department is not a payee on an insurance loss draft for a property with an insured mortgage, HUD must still be notified of the event and any damage sustained to the property. 
 
For all properties located in the state of an affected storm area, we request weekly vacancy data.  The vacancy updates can be sent per property or per management agent/owner portfolio, to atlantadisasterassistance@hud.gov or damageassessmentsflorida@hud.gov based upon the servicing office.  It would be beneficial for the information to be submitted in table or Excel format including the following:
 

Property Name	iREMS ID	State	Studio	One BR	Two BR	Three BR	Four BR	Total

 
REMINDER TO OWNERS IN AFFECTED AREAS:
Owners should not evict tenants from their unit in order to make hurricane related repairs.   The Department encourages you to revisit the instructions provided in Chapter 38 of Handbook 4350.1 for related Emergency/Disaster Guidance.
 
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
Owners/agents are responsible for:

• Developing a pre-disaster checklist that is shared with tenants;
• Developing an emergency relocation plan to relocate residents prior to the storm, especially at Section 202 Elderly and Section 811 Disabled residents properties; 
• Ensuring that the property and property records are secured.  And residents' possessions and valuables are secured and protected to the greatest extent possible. 
• Contacting the local HUD office immediately following a disaster;
• Providing a status report of the residents and property conditions;
• Ensuring that residents provide EMERGENCY contact numbers, especially if they become displaced from the property; 
• Determining the extent of damage, security needs, resident property protection needs, etc.
• Contacting the property's insurance provider to apply for property and business interruption claims;
• Maintaining inventory of all residents, property, phone numbers, mailing address, and emails; 
• Determining which residents have been displaced due to unit damage or a failure of a major building system such as the electrical system, etc.; and
• Tracking each displaced resident's temporary location and maintain contact information for each displaced resident, particularly if the property will likely have units off-line for more than 30 days.
• Contacting FEMA for on-going guidance and instructing residents to register with FEMA through 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or www.fema.gov. 
• Applying for assistance with FEMA, Small Business Administration, Housing Finance Agency and others;

 
 
Useful links: 

• Ready.GOV at https://www.ready.gov/ for information on how to prepare for various disasters and emergencies.
• Center for Disease Control at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/covid-19/prepare-for-hurricane.html for information on Hurricane Preparedness in the midst of the current pandemic.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 1-800-621-3362 – https://www.fema.gov/
• American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org 1 800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)