Becker & Poliakoff Posts Online Condo, HOA Hurricane Preparedness Checklist in Advance of 2006 Storm Season
Law Firm's “2006 Community Association Hurricane Preparedness Checklist” Helps Professionals and Elected Boards Prepare Communities For Storm-Related Disaster

(Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) -Law Firm's “2006 Community Association Hurricane Preparedness Checklist” Helps Professionals and Elected Boards Prepare Communities For Storm-Related Disaster

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (May 16, 2006) – Becker & Poliakoff, a diversified commercial law firm with more than one hundred attorneys in fifteen offices throughout Florida, today announced the posting of its online “2006 Community Association Hurricane Preparedness Checklist” to help condo, homeowner and other community associations statewide prepare to protect their properties and residents during the upcoming 2006 hurricane season.

Becker & Poliakoff's 2006 Community Association Hurricane Preparedness Checklist, available online at www.hurricane-recovery.com or via fax upon request to Becker & Poliakoff offices statewide, includes 12 critical points that professionals and board members who manage or direct the affairs of common-ownership housing communities should keep in mind to adequately prepare themselves and their communities in the event of hurricane- and storm-related disasters.

“During the 2004 and 2005 storm seasons, many community associations in South Florida and throughout the state learned somber and often costly lessons about the issue of careful preparation in protecting themselves in the recovery process,” said Becker & Poliakoff shareholder Kenneth S. Direktor, a Palm Beaches-based attorney who leads the firm's Community Association practice statewide. “This checklist identifies and addresses many of the most commonly asked questions and will help board members take a more organized approach to issues that require swift action.”

Leading hurricane forecasters predict an active 2006 tropical storm season, which officially kicks off June 1st, calling for a total of 17 named tropical storms, including nine hurricanes – five of which will be classified as “major,” with winds in excess of 110 miles per hour. The 2006 storm activity is expected to be above average, though less active than the 2005 season, which was the most active in recorded history, with a total 28 named storms, including 15 hurricanes – seven classified as “major” and a record five of those making landfall on the U.S. mainland.

Becker & Poliakoff's 12-point Hurricane Preparedness Checklist includes the following tips for those who need to prepare their communities for the 2006 hurricane season:

1. Disaster Plan – Do a risk analysis of potential consequences of a storm and develop a complete disaster plan, designating a responsible community member as Disaster Plan Coordinator and another as Information Facilitator to field queries and respond to from community members;
2. Evacuation Routes - Establish clear building or community evacuation routes and be sure that all community members are provided with copies or printouts and that routes are clearly marked as storms approach; conduct building or community evacuation drills in the weeks leading up to hurricane season;
3. Emergency Generators & Supplies – Be sure emergency generators are in working order and have adequate fuel supplies, stock a building or community emergency supplies storeroom with flashlights, batteries, water and other necessities for residents and employees in the aftermath of a tropical storm;
4. Backup Computer Files – Be sure that computer files crucial to running the building and association are backed up to CDs or Portable Storage Devices and keep a list of office computer hardware and software vendors and repairmen in case computers crash or systems fail;
5. Secure the Premises – Make preparations for routine lockdown of the building or other facilities as a storm approaches, so the building is secure during the storm and safe from vandalism or looting if a hurricane strikes;
6. List of Owners & Employees – Have on hand a current, hard-copy reference list complete with the names all property owners, emergency contact numbers and details of second residence addresses, as well as a list of all association employees, with full contact details;
7. Photograph or Video Premises – Keep a visual record through video or photographs of premises, facilities and buildings to facilitate damage assessment and speed damage claims in a storm aftermath;
8. Building and Facilities Plans – Make sure a complete set of building or community plans are readily available for consultation by first-responders, utilities workers and insurance adjusters following a storm;
9. Insurance Policies & Agent Details – Be sure all insurance policies are current and coverage is adequate for community property, facilities and common areas and compliant with State Law; full contact details for insurance companies and agents should be readily available in the event of a storm;
10. Bank Account Details & Signatories – Keep handy a list of all bank account numbers, branch locations and authorized association signatories, and make contingency plans for back-up signatories in case evacuation or relocation becomes necessary;
11. Mitigation of Damages : In the immediate aftermath of a storm, take the necessary steps to mitigate damages -- this includes "Drying- In," which is the placement of tarps on openings in the roof and plywood over blown out doors and windows, and " Drying –Out," which is the removal of wet carpet and drywall to prevent the growth of mold; And,
12. Debris Removal – Have a plan for speedy removal of debris by maintenance staff, outside contractors or civic public works employees, should a hurricane topple trees and leave debris in its wake.

The 2006 Community Association Hurricane Preparedness Checklist is the latest in a series of disaster-related services provided to clients and the Florida general public by the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff. Since Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida in 1992, the law firm has prided itself in offering Florida businesses and residents “a place to turn to” in all phases of recovery efforts, assisting in efforts to secure appropriate, fair and timely compensation and/or reconstruction of damaged property.

In 2005, Becker & Poliakoff was the recipient of a Thomson Elite award in recognition of a client- service initiative launched during the devastating hurricanes that hit Florida during a six-week period in 2004. The initiative included an informative special section within the Becker & Poliakoff website under the dedicated Internet domain www.hurricane-recovery.com that was designed to help with post disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts.

More information about Becker & Poliakoff's 2006 Community Association Hurricane Preparedness Checklist can be found online at www.hurricane-recovery.com.

Additional information about the law firm's disaster recovery efforts, including available seminars, a checklist for communities affected by hurricanes, and pertinent articles by Becker & Poliakoff attorneys can be found at: http://www.becker-poliakoff.com/areas_of_practice/disaster_recovery.html.