Quick Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Property Owners

• ☐Assign one person to lead storm communications and keep a backup contact.
• ☐Confirm current phone numbers and email addresses for owners, managers, tenants or occupants, key vendors and emergency contacts.
• ☐Keep current property-access information, including keys, codes and authorized contacts, in a secure location that can be reached off-site.
• ☐Photograph or record the property's current condition before a storm threatens.
• ☐Organize insurance policy information, insurer or agent contact details, property records and important vendor information.
• ☐Review flood coverage with the insurer or licensed agent before hurricane season rather than assuming a standard property policy covers flooding.
• ☐Check roofs, exterior components, drainage paths, gutters, downspouts and loose outdoor items early enough to address issues safely.
• ☐Decide how and when tenants or occupants will receive storm, closure, evacuation and reentry updates.
• ☐Identify which vendors may be needed before and after a storm and confirm how they will be contacted if normal access is disrupted.
• ☐For New Orleans businesses, verify the current post-evacuation business reentry process and placard requirements before hurricane season.
• ☐Follow official evacuation instructions. Do not stay behind to protect or inspect property when the City orders a mandatory evacuation.
• ☐After the storm, wait for official access and safety clearance before entering a damaged building, documenting losses or starting repairs.

Before Hurricane Season: Build the Property's Storm Plan

A useful storm plan answers basic operating questions before weather becomes urgent: Who makes decisions? Who communicates with tenants? Who can authorize vendors? Where are the records? What happens if the primary contact is unavailable?

Louisiana's Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness recommends planning ahead for business continuity and making sure people know what they're expected to do. For property owners, that same principle applies to the building itself: roles and communication should be decided before a storm is close enough to force rushed decisions.

Assign owners, managers, tenants and vendors clear roles

Start with a simple responsibility list. It doesn't need to be complicated, but it should make clear who owns each task.

For multi-tenant or mixed-use properties, add backups. One missed call shouldn't be able to break the entire communication chain.

Update emergency contacts and property access information

Keep the contact list somewhere the responsible people can reach even if they can't get to the building. Include the owner or asset manager, on-site manager, major tenants, key vendors, insurer or agent, utility contacts and the person responsible for authorizing emergency work.

Access information deserves the same treatment. Record where keys are held, who can authorize entry, what gate or alarm procedures apply, and which vendors are permitted to enter when the property is open. Store sensitive information securely rather than leaving passwords or access codes in an ordinary shared document.

Create a current property condition record

Before hurricane season—and again if the property changes materially—take dated photos or video of the exterior, common areas, tenant spaces where appropriate, major equipment and other important features. Keep copies somewhere that will remain available if the building loses power or cannot be reached.

A baseline condition record can help owners organize post-storm documentation and conversations with insurers, adjusters, contractors or other professionals. It does not guarantee that a claim will be accepted or determine what a policy covers.

Review insurance contacts and flood coverage before a storm

Do not wait until a named storm is approaching to figure out what policy documents you have or who to call. FloodSmart states that most homeowners, renters and business insurance does not cover flood damage. It also states that National Flood Insurance Program coverage generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, with listed exceptions.

That makes preseason review important. Confirm the actual coverage, limits, deductibles, exclusions, notice requirements and claim process with the insurer or licensed agent. This guide cannot determine whether a specific loss is covered.

Prepare the Building and Site Before a Storm Threatens

The best time to address ordinary maintenance and obvious exterior problems is before a storm is on the doorstep. Once winds and rain are approaching, outdoor work can become unsafe quickly.

Clear drainage paths and address exterior hazards

NOLA Ready advises residents to remove debris from gutters and downspouts, clear debris from catch basins and report clogged catch basins to 311. For a rental or commercial property, add those items to routine preseason inspections and the final site check before a storm.

Also look for loose outdoor furniture, signs, waste containers, temporary displays or other objects that can be secured or brought inside safely. If a roof, exterior wall, tree or other feature appears to need technical evaluation, use a qualified professional rather than turning the storm checklist into a do-it-yourself repair project.

Clearing drainage paths doesn't guarantee that a property won't flood. New Orleans owners should still monitor flood risk and official local guidance.

Identify critical equipment and utility risks

List the equipment and systems that matter most to operations and recovery: electrical panels, HVAC equipment, pumps, refrigeration, access control, elevators, servers, life-safety systems or other property-specific assets. The point isn't to improvise technical shutdown procedures. It's to know what exists, who is qualified to work on it, and who needs to be called if the system is damaged or loses power.

If the property has a generator, keep the manufacturer's instructions and qualified service contacts available. Never place a portable generator indoors, in a garage, or close to openings. The CDC says portable gasoline or coal-burning equipment should be used outside and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents because of carbon monoxide risk.

What to Do When a Hurricane Watch or Warning Is Issued

A Hurricane Watch and a Hurricane Warning are not interchangeable. The National Hurricane Center uses them to describe different levels of expected threat. The timing of each is tied to the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds, because outdoor preparation becomes difficult or dangerous once those winds begin.

Do not treat 48 hours or 36 hours as guaranteed work windows. Storm timing changes, official orders can come earlier, and some tasks should be finished well before a watch or warning is issued.

If the City of New Orleans issues a mandatory evacuation, NOLA Ready says all residents and visitors must leave. Protecting a building is never a reason to stay behind during a mandatory evacuation.

New Orleans Rental Property Hurricane Checklist

For rental property, the owner or manager needs a reliable communication plan as much as a physical-property checklist. Lease terms and legal responsibilities vary, so keep the storm plan focused on clear communication, accessible records and safe coordination rather than making blanket claims about what every landlord or tenant is legally required to do.

• Confirm the current contact information for every tenant or household and the best backup method for reaching them.
• Tell tenants where official storm and evacuation updates will come from, including NOLA Ready for New Orleans properties.
• Explain how the property will communicate building-specific updates, closures, access restrictions and post-storm status.
• Keep lease, insurance, maintenance and property-condition records available off-site.
• Record the property's baseline condition before the storm.
• Secure owner-controlled exterior items and common areas while it is still safe to do so.
• Make sure tenants know how to report urgent maintenance issues before and after the storm.
• Do not ask tenants to perform unsafe roof, electrical, structural or generator work.
• After the storm, communicate access status before encouraging anyone to return to a damaged building.
• Use qualified professionals for conditions that require technical inspection or repair.

For residential rentals, service relationships should also be clear. LaNasa's own site states that residential services are handled through a separately owned residential management company, while LaNasa positions its property-management services primarily around commercial properties. This guide should not be read as a claim that LaNasa directly manages every type of residential rental.

New Orleans Commercial Property Hurricane Checklist

Commercial properties add another layer: business continuity, employees, tenant operations, deliveries, equipment, access credentials and vendor coordination may all have to move together.

Before hurricane season, commercial owners and managers should:

• Confirm who can authorize closure, emergency spending, vendor access and repair work.
• Keep tenant and key employee contacts current.
• Identify critical vendors and confirm after-hours contact methods.
• Store leases, insurance information, site plans, equipment records and important vendor documents where they can be reached off-site.
• Build a communication sequence for watch, warning, evacuation, closure, reentry and reopening.
• Verify the current New Orleans business reentry process before it is needed.
• Review which equipment or tenant operations may need qualified shutdown or restart support.
• Photograph or record the property's current condition and important equipment.
• Decide how post-storm status updates will be distributed to tenants, employees, vendors and ownership.

New Orleans-Specific Steps Owners Should Not Miss

A national hurricane checklist can cover weather, records and communication. New Orleans owners also need to account for local evacuation, reentry and drainage procedures.

Verify business reentry credentials before hurricane season

After a mandatory evacuation, the City may allow businesses to return before the general public as part of a staged reentry process. NOLA Ready says businesses must register each year for a post-evacuation reentry assignment through the City's One Stop system and follow the current placard process.

Treat reentry credentials as something to verify before hurricane season, not after the evacuation has already happened. A placard does not guarantee access at a particular time; reentry depends on the specific event and official instructions.

Keep drainage and catch-basin issues on the property checklist

NOLA Ready specifically recommends clearing gutters and downspouts, removing debris from catch basins and reporting clogged catch basins to 311. Owners of larger sites should decide who checks these areas and when. The task should be completed before conditions make outdoor work unsafe.

New Orleans local hurricane checklist

• Check current NOLA Ready hurricane guidance before the season and during an active event.
• Sign up responsible team members for local emergency alerts.
• Confirm the current business reentry registration and placard process if the property houses commercial operations.
• Add gutters, downspouts, site drainage and nearby catch-basin conditions to the preseason property walk-through.
• Report clogged public catch basins to 311.
• Follow mandatory evacuation orders and official reentry instructions.
• For historic properties, check whether planned exterior repairs require HDLC review before work begins.

Insurance and Documentation: What to Organize Before the Storm

A good storm file should be useful even if the owner cannot reach the property. Keep the information organized, current and accessible to the people who may need it.

Include:

• Insurance policy documents and insurer or agent contact information.
• Property-condition photos or video taken before the storm.
• Major equipment or inventory records where relevant.
• Lease and tenant contact information.
• Vendor and contractor contacts.
• Property access information stored securely.
• Important permits, plans or building records that may help with recovery coordination.
• A dated log of major storm communications, inspections and repair decisions.

Flood coverage deserves a separate check. FloodSmart says most standard homeowners, renters and business insurance does not cover flood damage. NFIP coverage generally begins 30 days after purchase, subject to exceptions. The right step is to review the actual policy with the insurer or licensed agent before the storm season, not to rely on a general checklist to interpret coverage.

Photos and records can support organization and documentation, but they do not guarantee payment of an insurance claim.

After the Storm: Put Safe Access Before Damage Documentation

The urge to check a property immediately is understandable. Safety still comes first. The CDC advises people not to enter a damaged building until local authorities determine it is safe.

A simple sequence helps keep recovery organized:

Official access -> hazard awareness -> qualified inspection where needed -> condition documentation -> insurer/vendor coordination -> tenant or occupant updates -> repairs and reopening.

Historic New Orleans Properties Need an Extra Repair Check

Historic properties can require another step before exterior repairs begin. The City of New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission states that a Certificate of Appropriateness is required for exterior work on buildings in local historic districts and on individually designated landmarks. The City's page includes repairs, alterations, additions, demolition, relocation, new construction and certain site work within that review.

That does not mean every storm repair follows the same permit path. The property, district, scope of work and current City requirements matter. Before starting exterior work on a historic property, verify the property's status and the current HDLC and Safety & Permits requirements.

LaNasa also maintains a dedicated historic property management service page for owners managing historic assets in the New Orleans market.

When Professional Property Management Can Help

A hurricane plan becomes harder to manage when an owner is remote, a property has multiple tenants, or several vendors and building systems have to be coordinated at once. A commercial property manager can provide a single point of coordination for communications, access, inspections, maintenance, vendor scheduling, records and repair follow-through within the scope of the management agreement.

Hurricane Preparedness FAQs for New Orleans Property Owners

Official Hurricane and Property-Owner Resources

Sources

• National Hurricane Center. Glossary of NHC Terms.
• City of New Orleans / NOLA Ready. Hurricanes & Tropical Weather.
• National Flood Insurance Program / FloodSmart. Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Safety Guidelines: After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm.
• City of New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission. Certificate of Appropriateness.
• Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Business Plan.