Getting Ahead of the Storm
Property Management Pre- and Post-Disaster
By Nickalene Badalamenti-Kalas
Weather extremes and severe storm events are occurring more frequently across the United States and around the world. These events have not only caused significant damage to properties but also impacted new regions that are not fully prepared to confront them. The increasing occurrence and intensity of natural disasters calls for proactive measures to mitigate potential property damage and expedite recovery efforts.
The Need for Predictive Disaster Management
The growing frequency and severity of weather-related disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires have wreaked havoc on communities and caused substantial financial losses. According to the NOAA Climate Disaster Report, the total cost of damages due to weather effects in 2022 exceeded $165 billion in the United States alone.
There is little or nothing we can do to control these events, but predicting their occurrences and proactively mapping their potential paths are essential steps toward minimizing their impact on real estate assets and the people who occupy them.
The CLADE™ Disaster Alert System
Five Brothers, a leading field services company and provider of best-in-class asset management solutions, has developed a revolutionary technology called the CLADE Disaster Alert System. By leveraging advanced technology, CLADE enables servicers, investors, and property managers to take proactive measures to protect at-risk properties before a disaster strikes, and streamline the inspection, debris removal, and claims processes post-disaster. It presents a real-time visual presentation of affected areas, enabling a strategic approach to risk management.
CLADE Key Features
> Advanced Geo-Tagged Asset Locations: CLADE employs advanced geospatial technology to accurately pinpoint the location of assets, providing a comprehensive view of the properties within proximity to potential disaster zones.
> Real-time Disaster Occurrence Notification: CLADE provides real-time alerts to clients whenever a potential disaster event occurs near their assets.
> Layered Mapping for Disaster Zone Identification: The system utilizes layered mapping to quickly identify disaster zones, providing visual representations of the areas likely to be affected by various natural disasters.
> Exportable Property Lists for Asset-Specific Analysis: CLADE generates exportable property lists that include an asset-specific analysis, enabling clients to prioritize their response and recovery efforts.
> Storm Surge Mapping Layer: Recognizing the significance of storm water inundation and flooding accompanying hurricanes to coastal and inland regions, CLADE assists in identifying areas and assets most susceptible to flooding.
> One-Click Access to Field Service Orders: CLADE offers a one-click access feature, allowing users to promptly place pre- and post-disaster field service orders for necessary property protection and stabilization measures.
Implementation and Scalability
CLADE is available both as a value-added component of the Five Brothers asset management technology suite, FiveOnline, and as a standalone application. Users can easily upload their portfolios using the intuitive CLADE interface. CLADE is scalable to accommodate portfolios of any size for default, REO, REI vacant and/or occupied properties.
Pre- and Post-Disaster Field Services
When at-risk properties have been identified, stakeholders can quickly engage Five Brothers’ nationwide network of field service professionals to prepare properties for the coming weather event. When the storm has passed, field service personnel are dispatched to conduct exterior and/or interior inspections with geo-tagged photos and complete documentation. Based on the report findings, bids are submitted for board removal, utility reconnection, debris removal and relocation, and tarp-over services to prevent further damage.
The clear benefit CLADE brings to these services is reaction time. It provides a critical interval in which to prepare assets to minimize damage pre-disaster, and to order boots on the ground to quickly assess property conditions and accelerate the claims and remediation processes post-disaster. It represents a transformative asset management solution to the growing challenges posed by weather extremes and severe storm events.
See the CLADE technology introductory video and explore Five Brothers asset management solutions at fivebrms.com.
