Storm Season Playbook: How Property Managers Stay Ready, Not Reactive

Storms don’t care about your workflow. They don’t schedule around your make-readies, renewals, or vendor delays. They just show up and if you’re not ready, you’re already behind.

Here’s how seasoned property managers prep, respond, and recover without the chaos, the guessing, or the last-minute scramble.

Before the Storm: Lock It Down

Storm prep should be an operational priority.

Pre-Storm Checklist:

• Pre-Season Inspections – Roofs, gutters, HVACs, trees, and common areas. Document current condition and vulnerabilities.

• Resident Communication – Text and email alerts with emergency contacts, sandbag locations, and reporting protocols.

• Vendor Agreements – Pre-negotiate with board-up, mitigation, tree, and electrical vendors.

• Risk Mapping – Flag high-risk properties based on location, claim history, or condition.

• Data & Documents – Ensure inspection reports, insurance policies, and photos are cloud-accessible and time-stamped.

Pro Tip: Use rapid inspection partners like Seek Now to capture clear pre-event visuals so you’re armed with evidence if damage occurs later.

During the Storm: Protect and Monitor

Your job during the storm? Stay informed, stay safe, and get ready for what comes next.

During-Storm Focus Areas:

• Remote Monitoring – Use video surveillance, resident updates, and partner reports to track impacts.

• Shutoffs in Flood Zones – If safe, cut electric service to prevent damage escalation.

• Centralized Response Hub – Assign one point of contact per region to coordinate internal updates and action items.

Pro Tip: Remote, real-time check-ins from trusted inspection partners can give you a jumpstart, especially if your staff is grounded.

After the Storm: Speed + Documentation Wins

The first 48 hours after a storm are make-or-break for asset protection.

Post-Storm Checklist:

• Rapid Triage Inspections – Safety issues first, then access and habitability. Use trusted inspection teams to scale faster.

• Photo + Video Documentation – Every issue. Every unit. Time-stamped and geo-tagged.

• Resident Updates – Communicate frequently, even if there’s no new info. Silence breeds frustration.

• Repair Prioritization – Water intrusion, structural damage, and systems (HVAC, electric) take precedence.

• Secondary Assessments – Schedule follow-ups to detect hidden issues like mold, moisture, or foundation shifts.

Pro Tip: Partners like Seek Now can capture damage documentation, prioritize reports, and help inform insurance responses fast without waiting for boots to hit the ground across every property.

Bottom Line: Don’t Just Weather the Storm — Lead Through It

Storm readiness is a leadership test. The property managers who move fast, communicate clearly, and protect both people and property? Those are the ones who don’t just survive storm season they turn it into a proof point for operational excellence.

If your response plan depends on luck or last-minute scrambling, it’s already broken. Start now. Stay visible. And lead the way when it counts.