Emergency Management; Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV Hurricane Specialist; Jeff Ulm, Association
Services of Florida; Chuck Lanza, Broward County Emergency Management; Chief
Dan Sullivan, Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue
With hurricane season just around the corner, preparedness, emergency management and avoiding complacency were timely topics of an Aventura Marketing Council Chairman’s Roundtable luncheon co-hosted by Associa /Association Services of Florida and Restoration USA.
AMC Chair Cliff Schulman of Weiss, Serota, Helfman, helped welcome business and community leaders gathered at Christine Lee’s at Gulfstream Park for the proactive event featuring Chuck Lanza, Director of Broward County Emergency Management; the legendary Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV hurricane specialist and former National Hurricane Center Director; Curt Sommerhoff, Director of Miami-Dade County Emergency Management; and Chief Dan Sullivan, from Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue.
Lanza emphasized, “We want to provide you with the best information so you can be prepared for hurricane season [June 1 through Nov. 30]. We’re always optimistic – but have to be ready for worst-case scenarios. Plan ahead to have enough supplies to last at least three days – and if you live in a coastal area, heed evacuation orders.”
Discussing this year’s above-average storm forecast, Mayfield said, “Dr. William Gray is predicting eighteen named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. It’s tough to get people thinking about hurricanes when the weather is so nice, but it just takes one to make for a bad year and we need to be prepared – no matter what the forecasts are.”
McShane, Restoration USA; Chuck Lanza; Chief Dan Sullivan
Sommerhoff reiterated the importance of understanding that emergency managers determine evacuation zones based on the threat of dangerous storm surge levels. “Destruction and flooding can occur in lowlying areas as much as ten to fifteen miles inland,” he said.
Chief Sullivan advised, “Stay informed way before an event, get your personal plan ready, learn how to prepare your home or business – and help your neighbors.”
Association Services of Florida CEO Jeff Ulm encouraged condo association leaders and the community at-large to obtain a copy of their helpful 2013 Hurricane Guide. “The subject of emergency management is very important to ASF, specializing in managing developer and commercial properties, upscale condos and HOAs in the tri-county area,” Ulm said. “ASF is a member company of Associa, regarded as the largest community association management firm in the U.S., with offices across the nation, Canada and Mexico. Truly a local company with national power, ASF is uniquely positioned to provide superior service to our clients.”
On behalf of Restoration USA founded by James Cohen, partner/general counsel ChristopherMcShane emphasized the importance of hurricane “insurance preparation” and having necessary policies in place before a storm hits. He explained, “Restoration USA is a commercial and residential emergency service, providing around-theclock water damage mitigation, leak detection, mold remediation professionals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our affiliate company, Restoration USA Development, is a full commercial and residential contracting company – so we have capabilities to handle all situations from ‘A to Z’ in the least amount of time possible.”
For more information on Associa/ Association Services of Florida, phone: 954- 922-3514 or visit www.associaflorida.com; For more information on Restoration USA, phone: 866-745-6428 visit www.RestorationUSA.com.
