The Board’s First 14 Days After a Storm: A Checklist for Condo and HOA Boards

By Homeland Public Adjusters
Licensed public adjusters serving Florida & New Jersey

Checklist chart for a condo or HOA board’s first 14 days after a hurricane

Short answer: most association claims are shaped in the first two weeks: what the board documents, what it signs, and who it calls. Protect people, document every building before cleanup, stop further damage, use the emergency powers Florida law gives the board carefully, and call Homeland before the board signs anything with a contractor or talks scope with anyone else.

Days 1–3: safety and documentation

• Account for residents and staff; close unsafe areas.
• Photograph and video every building, roof, common area, elevator and mechanical room, with dates, before cleanup.
• Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage (tarps, water extraction) and keep every invoice.
• Pull the master policy, flood policy and declarations pages, the latest milestone report and SIRS, and pre-storm photos. See what your association should have on file.
• Call Homeland first: we review the policies, document the loss and handle the claim for the association.

Days 3–7: emergency powers, used carefully

After a declared state of emergency, unless the governing documents prohibit it, a Florida condo board may, among other things (§718.1265):

• require evacuation if there is an evacuation order;
• mitigate damage, including removing wet drywall, insulation, carpet and cabinetry, even where the owner must insure or replace them;
• contract for items or services owners are individually responsible for, and recover the cost from those owners;
• levy special assessments without an owner vote; and
• borrow money and pledge association assets to fund emergency repairs when operating funds are insufficient.

HOA boards have similar powers for common areas (§720.316), without the evacuation or contract-for-owners powers. These powers last only as long as reasonably necessary. Neither statute lets the board use reserves for other purposes; see reserves and the deductible.

Days 7–14: protect the claim

• Vet every contractor’s license before signing (see Vetting Contractors After a Storm). A Florida roof contract signed within 180 days of a declared emergency can be cancelled within 10 days of signing or by the official start date, whichever comes first (§489.147).
• Do not let a contractor interpret the policy or adjust the claim; in Florida that requires a public adjuster license.
• Track owners’ unit damage separately from building damage. Owners have their own HO-6 claims for what they must insure; tell them to call Homeland too, and we’ll coordinate unit claims with the association’s.
• Communicate with owners in writing: what happened, what the board is doing, and when to expect the next update.
• Watch the claim deadlines: see Florida and New Jersey claim deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Fla. Stat. §718.1265; Fla. Stat. §720.316; Fla. Stat. §489.147.

This guide is general information for association boards and managers, current as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Your governing documents, your policies and your association’s attorney control.

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