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CAN ALERT: Last Minute Hurricane Tips From Various Industry Experts

Dear  It has been almost three years since the State of Florida was hit by a hurricane but our memories are quickly returning as Fay heads our way. We asked our corporate sponsors to provide our members with some practical tips to follow before and after a storm: 1. CSI Associates' Leo Delgado advises that people should make sure the electric is working for the particular television(s) affected before calling the cable company for a suspected cable problem. Leo also advises that people should not attempt to reconnect their own cable lines as the electric could be down and reconnecting could pose a safety hazard; to be on the safe side, always call it in and wait for the professionals; 2. Keith Raymond of Colonial Bank recommends that boards and owners take out three days' of funds in cash to utilize after the storm for gas and supplies in anticipation of a possible power outage. Six Colonial Bank branches in the Palm Beach/Treasure Coast area will have generator power. Other branches will be open on generator power based on market need. It is important for board members to remember that if two signatories are needed on the association account, those signatures should be obtained in advance if those signatories plan on leaving the area before or immediately after the storm; 3. Ashiel Ojeda of USI Insurance Services of Florida provides a list of useful tips for associations of what to do and not do in the event of a storm since fast action is crucial when property losses occur. DO: Protect the property from further damage; take photographs of damage before you take protective action; prepare an inventory list of property damage (list quantity, description, actual cash value and amount of loss); retain damaged property until an adjuster approves disposing of same; and keep receipts for all repairs. DO NOT: Destroy or dispose of damaged property; speak with third parties (other than your legal counsel) about your claim; sign a release. Some important numbers to keep handy are: FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Administration) which provides financial and physical assistance to those impacted by natural disasters. Phone: 1-800-621-3362 or via email at www.fema.gov. Red Cross which provides shelter, food, physical and mental services to address basic human needs. Phone: 1-866-438-4636 or via email at www.redcross.org Small Business Administration (SBA) which provides government-funded financial assistance. Phone: 1-800-659-2955 or via email at www.sba.gov. 4. Jeff Ducker of Kane & Company, C.P.A.'s advises that associations should prepare for storms by: storing all records in a safe location; preparing an inventory of property contents; back-up all computer files; and storing duplicate copies of important materials off-site. After the storm has passed, the association needs to consider its financial options for repairs including the use of emergency funds, possible loans or lines of credit, special assessments, and the recovery of insurance proceeds. These are all great tips from our corporate sponsors. For those of you who want to know more about Robert's Rules of Order and what it means to be a parliamentarian, the Plantation Unit of Parlimentarians is holding a four-hour seminar on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Helen B. Hoffman Library at 501 North Fig Tree Lane, Plantation, Fl 33317. If you register in advance the fee is $20.00; for those wishing to register the day of the event the fee is $30.00. For more information, call 954-791-5957. If you've ever been stumped by an owner or fellow board member shouting out motions, this might be a worthwhile seminar to attend. Lastly, if you haven't already done so, please take 5 minutes to fill out our HOA Regulation Survey which can be found at the CAN website at www.canfl.com. If you live in a homeowners' association, this is your opportunity to let your legislators know what you want before the next legislative session when substantial HOA changes will be proposed including the move to regulate members of HOA's and charge each owner a per lot fee to pay for such state regulation. Let's hope we are all fortunate enough to avoid Fay. Please make sure to keep these tips handy throughout the season. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have or to contact our corporate sponsors directly with any questions regarding the useful information they submitted for you. Best Regards, Donna D. Berger, Esq. Executive Director of the Community Advocacy Network (CAN) Telephone: 954.315.0372 Facsimile: 954.315.0373 Web: www.canfl.com Email: dberger@canfl.com

For more information, please contact Donna Berger at (954) 315-0372 or via email at dberger@canfl.com