Emergencies and Natural Disasters

Unfortunately, emergencies and disasters happen all around the world. The best solution is to be prepared.

There are different emergencies 

 Maintenance emergencies:

• HappyDoors outlined earlier in this handbook.
• Please follow the maintenance instructions and call HappyDoors when appropriate.
• HappyDoors requests that you treat the HappyDoors staff courteously while under stress of the situation – we will do everything we can to help you as soon as possible.

  Area emergencies or disasters:

• When major emergencies or disasters such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or some other force of nature occur, everyone experiences great inconvenience and difficulty. Remember this and be considerate of others and the degrees of different problems.
• HappyDoors requests that you call emergency services first in a disaster.
• If you are unable to occupy the property, contact your renters insurance company to discuss temporary displace. Then notify the HappyDoors office as soon as possible what has happened.
• HappyDoors will assign priorities to work and during an area emergency/disaster, will work to assist you as much as possible
• When contacting the HappyDoors office, we ask you to be patient and calmly state what problems you are experiencing. We will handle the problems as quickly as possible.

Hurricanes 
Our hope is that this does not happen, however, we want to review some general steps to assist you in the event a hurricane does impact the island. 

Before: 

1. Contact your renters insurance provider to verify that you have proper coverage. It's important to ensure that they will offer you assistance in terms of alternative housing and other possible displacement coverage such food allowances in the event you are unable to occupy or return to the property right away.
2. Make an emergency plan with family, friends co-workers, etc. of where to go and meet before during, as well as after a hurricane. It's possible that phones and other communication devices may not work during or after a hurricane. Knowing where to meet in advance can be helpful. Having a primary meeting place and a backup meeting place may also assist if you are unable to access the primary location.
3. Stock up on general supplies such as food, water, flashlights, and medical supplies.
4. If temporarily leaving or evacuating the property, please turn off breakers at the breaker panel, gas at the gas meter as well as the gas appliances (when applicable) and water shut off valves (at sinks, toilets, washer/dryer, and main water shutoff if it's accessible). It may be good practice to do this even if you choose to stay at the property.
5. Assist in preparing the property by 1) clearing/cleaning rain gutters, 2) store and secure outdoor furniture/amenities, 3) take reasonable measures to support windows and doors.

During:

1. It's recommended to stay indoors away from windows and glass doors.
2. Close all interior doors.
3. Close all curtains and blinds.
4. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level, excluding basements or areas that may be below ground level.
5. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
6. Listen to the TV, radio, or other forms of announcements either from trusted news sources or local authorities.
7. If flooding or significant damage occurs to your property, it is possible that you may need to evacuate during the storm. Exercise extreme caution before making this decision.

Evacuation: 
If flooding or significant damage occurs to your property, it is possible that you may need to evacuate during the storm. Exercise extreme caution before making this decision. You may want to consider evacuation:

1. If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
2. If you live in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
3. If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
4. If you feel you are in imminent danger.

After:

1. Continue to listen to the TV, radio, or other forms of announcements either from trusted news sources or local authorities.
2. Call 911 or contact local authorities in the event of injury/trauma, or the health and safety of someone is in danger or there or imminent dangers to the property such as gas leaks or fire.
3. Contact your renters insurance provider if 1) your personal property has been damaged or destroyed, and/or 2) if the property is in an unsafe or uninhabitable condition.
4. Check electric, gas, and water lines before turning them back on.
5. Verify that food and water is safe before consumption.

If a hurricane does affect the Island of Oahu, it's important to keep in mind that it's possible that more than one property will be affected. We will do our best to follow up on property damage in a timely and efficient manner. It's also important to understand that there may be many things beyond our control such as power outages, down communication lines, road closures, the overall number of properties affected, etc. Such items can delay our ability to follow up on damages. 

In the event the property is damaged and you are unable to occupy it, please contact your insurance provider first to discuss temporary displacement. Homeowners insurance policies do not always offer this type of coverage which is why its important for you to verify that you have coverage through your insurance provider before the storm occurs. After discussing temporary displacement with your insurance provider, please contact us to let us know about the situation. If possible, we ask that you take and provide pictures.