Apartment Trends Magazine April 2020 | Page 17

COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS FOR APARTMENT FIRMS The information provided herein is general in nature and is not intended to be legal advice. It is designed to assist our members in understanding this issue area, but it is not intended to address specific circumstances or business situations. For specific legal advice, consult your attorney. T he Center for Disease Control (CDC) is currently monitoring a new outbreak of coronavirus, (COVID-19), which originated in Wuhan, China and is causing respiratory illness in populations across the globe, including in the U.S. and among people with no known connection to the cases in China. As cases of the novel coronavirus, (COVID-19) spread across the country, apartment firms need to prepare for potential impact to their communities and to address employee and resident concerns of potential exposure at their properties or workplaces. They also need to take measures to help stop the spread of the virus. To help them do that, NMHC has compiled an overview of suggested apartment owner preparations and considerations. NMHC recognizes that the broad array of company types, sizes and geographic locations that make up the apartment industry discourages a one-size-fits-all approach to planning. Also note that this overview is not to be construed as legal guidance. Instead, it is meant to be a starting point for your company-specific plan. We encourage firms to seek expert consultation in the development of their plan to ensure comprehensive coverage. Given the fast nature evolution of this situation, NMHC encourages firms to monitor our “Coronavirus Resources for Apartment Firms” landing page, which includes links to resources from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health www.aamdhq.org Organization (WHO), Department of Labor (DOL), Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and other organizations. We strongly recommend regularly visiting these sites for the latest news on this outbreak. Develop an Incident Response Plan for Possible COVID-19 Exposure at Apartment Communities Firms should start by creating a "Crisis Team" comprised of senior executives charged with developing the plan and carrying it out. This type of plan should be flexible and actionable regardless of whether the apartment firm is facing a potential outbreak like COVID-19 or staring down a catastrophic hurricane. In this case, since the impacts of the spread of COVID-19 can vary significantly, team members should include personnel from the corporate suite, risk management, human resources, legal, information technology, and operations. And team members should have decision-making and spending authority. For further guidance on how firms should create or enhance their Incident Response Plan, NMHC has provided an overview which can be accessed here. Firms should also familiarize themselves with state and local public health and disaster management authorities, learn how to access and use their resources and designate individuals to maintain these relationships. Information Provided By: These individuals will be responsible for providing your community with the most up-to-date information about a pandemic, the recommended procedures. Monitor and Communicate with Government Officials Regardless of the type of disaster or situation that has the potential to impact an apartment community, it is imperative for onsite staff and management to regularly monitor and communicate with public officials and first responders. Often, local, state or federal agencies are coordinating response with the private sector and will have the most up-to-date information on preparation, impact and recovery efforts. In this instance of the spread of COVID-19, apartment firms that are in affected communities should establish and maintain contact with local and state health departments and disaster management authorities. They should learn how to access and use their resources and designate individuals to maintain these relationships. These individuals will be responsible for providing your community with the most up-to-date information about a pandemic, the recommended procedures and the mandatory activities. All firms should monitor the websites and social media of the CDC, local and state health departments as well as other public officials to remain current on the latest available information. APRIL 2020 TRENDS | 15