We never know when a natural disaster will hit, so preparation is always important. The Texas Apartment Association has this article on their website with plenty of good information.
“Renters who have evacuated from their rental housing units may have questions about whether they are habitable and what happens if they are not.
You may want to review TAA’s Emergency Post-Disaster Notice to Our Residents, which is available to property owners to use in such circumstances. The information included in this form may be of assistance to you.
The TAA Lease Contract (paragraph 26) includes a provision for terminating the lease if fire or catastrophic damage is substantial. You will want to contact your property owner or manager as soon as possible to discuss the condition of your dwelling and next steps regarding your personal circumstances. If your Lease Contract is not a TAA Lease Contract, you will want to refer to your lease for specific information and contact your property owner or manager as soon as possible.
In the meantime, evacuees will want to register with FEMA as outlined in the first bullet point below and to seek any needed assistance from the American Red Cross or other relief organizations.
Here are some additional sources of information:
Other tools for disaster preparedness and response
The Texas Apartment Association recommends reviewing the following resources related to disaster preparedness and responding to any natural disaster that may occur:
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- Safe and Well Website from American Red Cross, where you can register as “safe and well” after a disaster and send messages to family and friends
- Next of Kin Registry, which stores emergency contact information”