HUD released a Multifamily Disaster Preparedness Plan Template to help HUD-assisted Multifamily owners and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) produce property-specific plans to protect resident life and safety during a disaster:

• Background, Staffing, and Coordination
• Resident Protection and Safety
• Building Protection
• Business Continuity

The plan should address how to navigate resident behavior during and after a disaster, including in instances where self-evacuation is not feasible for residents or where sheltering in place is preferred.

In addition, HUD’s Multifamily Housing Disaster Response Team is making progress on updating HUD’s disaster response handbook chapter, known as “Chapter 38” (of the Multifamily Asset Management and Project Servicing Handbook, 4350.1, REV-1 (external URL)).

As with any emergency or disaster event, HUD has reporting obligations on the impact to the multifamily housing portfolio (insured, assisted and/or deed restricted 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 events. It is most convenient if Owners and Agents proactively report.

Updated reports/information should be submitted as information is available concerning resident displacement or regarding the level/amount of damage sustained and/or utility status. Information should be sent to mf_disaster_team@hud.gov.

We encourage you to revisit Emergency and Disaster guidance provided in Chapter 38 of HUD Handbook 4350.1. Other Important Contact Information:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 1-800-621-3362 – https://www.fema.gov (external URL)
• American Red Cross – http://www.redcross.org (external URL) 1 800 RED CROSS (1-800-7332767)

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;