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All households should be prepared for disaster, but preparing residents of high-density housing comes with some unique and challenging approaches.
"Yes, just because of the population density. There can be 200 to 500 people living in one building" said Frank Rathbun, a spokesman for the Community Associations Institute (CAI).
For example, when a hurricane takes the roof off a single-family home only that family is affected.
If the storm lifts the roof from a condo complex, scores of homeowners must suddenly seek shelter.
"I struggle to find anything more fundamentally important than being prepared for a major crisis," says CAI executive officer Thomas M. Skiba.
"The upcoming third anniversary of 911 and two major hurricanes in less than a month are all the reminders we need," he added.
Representing 260,000 communities where 50 million homeowners live, CAI has joined the efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week to help launch National Preparedness Month, a national effort to encourage Americans to make plans, stay informed and learn more about the resources available to them in the event of an emergency -- natural or maniac made.
Since 911, high-density living has at least twice been put on high alert as a perceived potential target for terrorists after government intelligence indicated the possibility of attacks against population concentrations, including those found in hotels, apartment complexes and condo developments.
Both the National Multi Housing Council and CAI offered advice to cope with the alerts.
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