Board Update #143 [2006/06/12]

 

Dear Sun City Residents:

 

In recent weeks there have been a significant amount of dialogue, newspaper articles and editorials, and web postings regarding hurricanes and what the Community Association can or might do for individual residents.

 

The Resident Board Members and Executive Director Bob Mahnke share the same concerns. We also recognize that the Board's responsibility must ensure that the Community Association does not put itself in a position that could result in major liability and financial risk to its members, the residents of Sun City Hilton Head, or provide a false sense of security.  We carefully studied the possible scenarios and sought advice from both our legal counsel and people experienced in hurricane evacuation.

 

Those scenarios ranged from the Association directly coming to the aid of residents in times of an emergency such as a hurricane, allowing for the neighborhoods, through the Neighborhood Representatives, to compile a list of names of those who might need help, to hiring a third party company to provide aid.  It became apparent that we could not find a dependable solution.  Once an evacuation process begins, it is likely that there will be nobody available to provide assistance.  Additionally, we were advised that the risk to the Association was so great that each of the scenarios should be avoided.  In effect if a person was left behind, injured while being transported at the direction of the Association, forgot the necessary medications, or encountered any other similar circumstance, the ability to hold the Association responsible was too great to risk.

 

That brings us back to what can and must be done. All of Sun City's residents must take responsibility for ensuring their own safety. If there are special needs involved, those residents must make those needs known to family, friends, neighbors or others who might offer help. Please keep in mind that in the event of a hurricane most of our residents and staff are likely to leave before a mandatory evacuation is required, so appropriate planning now will avoid confusion later.

 

The Board encourages everyone, including those with special needs, to have a personal emergency plan and that includes being prepared to leave before any evacuation order becomes mandatory.

 

Al Reuben

 

Bob Hooper	gmcqu43034@aol.com
Jo Stephey	icare@thepacificos.com
Al Reuben	alreubenschh@aol.com