In June, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 6.1 earthquake 104 km west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at a shallow depth of 26 km. The USGS called it the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in the Gulf since 1950 and noted that an 1880 Cuba earthquake caused damage and fatalities in the area. The impact was so great that local reporting said tremors were felt across Florida, including Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and the Keys, with some buildings evacuated or inspected, though no immediate Florida damage was reported.
Ahead of hurricane season, Florida property owners often prepare for hurricanes, but recent seismic events show a broader concern: catastrophic stress on buildings doesn’t just come from a named storm. Earthquakes, tremors, flooding, sinkholes, tornadoes, hail, fire, and even regional disasters can reveal latent construction defects, trigger complicated coverage questions, and create urgent inspection needs for community associations and commercial property owners.
Document and Inventory Assets Before Disaster Strikes
When a natural disaster occurs, whether seismic, weather-related, or otherwise, the window for clear assessment narrows quickly. Property owners, HOA boards, and facility managers who wait until after an event to document their buildings face compounded challenges: rushed inspections, memory gaps about pre-event conditions, difficulty establishing causation between the disaster and observed damage, and weakened insurance claims.
Pre-disaster documentation serves three essential purposes:
1. Establishes Baseline Conditions
Detailed photographs, videos, and written inventories of building systems, structural elements, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical infrastructure, and common areas create an irrefutable record of pre-event condition. This baseline becomes critical when determining whether observed damage is new or pre-existing, a distinction that directly affects insurance coverage and liability.
2. Accelerates Post-Disaster Response
When disaster strikes, property owners with documented asset inventories can:
- Quickly identify what requires immediate inspection or repair
- Provide clear reference points to retained engineers and contractors
- Streamline communication with insurance adjusters and claims representatives
- Reduce delays in accessing coverage and beginning recovery
3. Strengthens Insurance Claims
Insurance carriers scrutinize claims for pre-existing conditions, maintenance gaps, or construction defects unrelated to the triggering event. Comprehensive pre-disaster documentation eliminates ambiguity, supports causation arguments, and reduces the likelihood of coverage disputes or claim denials.
What to Document:
- Structural elements: Foundation, walls, roof structure, load-bearing systems
- Building systems: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, elevators
- Exterior: Roof condition, siding, windows, doors, sealants, drainage systems
- Common areas: Parking structures, pools, landscaping, signage
- Interior finishes: Flooring, ceilings, walls, paint condition
- Previous repairs or known issues: Document any prior work, warranties, or known deficiencies
You should proactively capture images and video from multiple angles, note dates and conditions, and store documentation in a secure, accessible, location ideally maintaining both physical and digital copies.
If your community is preparing for a natural disaster or navigating a claim after a storm, contact our team today.