 Actions
Recommended for Boards of Directors and Managers of High-Rise Buildings
Have a reputable engineering firm inspect the building, including the
foundation, to determine if the building can withstand the erosion and
battering of water, wind, and waves that a hurricane brings. If the foundation
is safe and the building is sound, then residents can consider staying
unless local safety officials recommend evacuation. If the safety of the
building is in doubt, then all occupants must plan on going to a shelter.
If your building is structurally sound, it may be used for vertical evacuation.
Organize a group of responsible residents to develop a plan that will:
• Monitor the hurricane's course using information from NOAA Weather
Radio and local officials.
• Set up guidelines for the safety of cars.
• Provide for emergency power in case water floods the building.
• Make certain that elevators are not operated during the storm.
• Locate a safe area for the occupants to congregate, encouraging
them to stay away from windows and to wedge patio doors to prevent the
vibration from ripping them loose.
• Consider providing shelter for other people in the area who might
be trapped when evacuation routes are closed by the effects of the approaching
hurricane.
• Provide each floor with a floor captain or captains who have been
educated in hurricane preparedness and evacuation procedures and are able
to instruct the occupants of their floor on what to do in the event of
a hurricane.
Actions Recommended to Residents in High-Rise Buildings
• Know who your floor captain is. Listen to his or her suggestions.
• Be familiar with the location of all exit stairways. Count how
many steps you are from the door to the exit door in case the lights are
out in the hall.
• Do not use the elevator.
• Choose a location outside the building where members of your family
will meet if asked to evacuate.
• Rehearse your evacuation plan; it may save lives during a hurricane
threat.
• Remove all loose items from your terrace or patio.
• Close and lock all windows, sliding glass doors, and shutters.
If you do not have shutters, tape the glass in an "X" fashion
with cloth-backed tape. Glass that is coated with a plastic sunscreen
is already somewhat protected.
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