You don’t expect to see frost on the bushes or cold winds whipping through the veranda at a Florida senior living community, but the unexpected happens. Residents find themselves wading through floodwaters, escaping fires with a few possessions, and stuck in motels waiting for power and/or water restored after a disaster. As Stan Szpytek, president of Fire and Life Safety, often says, communities have to be prepared for all types of disasters, not just the ones most likely to occur. While most senior living communities understand the importance of preparedness and have disaster plans in place, studies suggest there are still gaps and risks. We are seeing this in real-time this week, as communities in traditionally warm states are experiencing record-cold temperatures, frost, and even the possibility of ice or snow.

 The Atlantic Hurricane season peaks on September 10th, and so far this season has been kind. As we approach September, it means we are preparing for strong storms and hoping for the best, including senior living owners and operators.   However, even if hurricanes are not a concern for you, natural disasters are happening more frequently everywhere, and everyone needs to be prepared.

Despite the best efforts of meteorologists and others, unexpected storms and weather events happen. Yet you can best protect your buildings and their inhabitants by planning for what you can expect as well as a few surprises you can’t.