Handling Mobile Home Park Crises
A tornado hits your park. A fire. A flood. A homicide. There’s a thousand things that can take a quiet, well-managed park into a full-bore crisis. Many of these problems are beyond your control. While insurance can help you rebuild, surviving the immediate aftermath requires a focused and calm approach. Here’s how to manage your way through a crisis effectively.
Stay Calm
The first rule of crisis management is to remain calm. If you get flustered, it will only make things worse. The British put up posters during World War II bombings of London that said, “Stay Calm and Carry On” – the best attitude during a crisis is to not lose your head. When you panic, you make snap decisions that are not based on facts but on adrenaline and emotion. Notice how calm pilots are in dangerous situations – they are trained to function with amazing calm to make the best decisions.
Know That It Will Be O.K. in the End
It’s easier to stay calm when you know that, in the end, it will all be fine. The mess will be cleared up, insurance will step in, and a year later, nobody will even know anything happened. In the middle of a crisis, it might seem like the world will never be the same. However, remember that there are emergency services, such as the Red Cross and FEMA, dedicated to handling such situations. Hang in there, because everything is going to be O.K.
Start Your Zero Hassle Evaluation
Fill out the form and we’ll contact you within 24 hours or less.
Put Together a Plan on Paper
In a crisis, it’s hard to concentrate and remember things. Get a pad of paper – a spiral notebook is ideal – and start writing everything down. Build a step-by-step plan to get out of the crisis. Write down every item, and next to each item, note who will be needed to complete it. For example, in a tornado, you might write, “Get photos of damage,” “Call insurance company to see when we can remove limbs, or if we have to wait for the adjuster,” “Get bids to remove limbs,” etc. This will become your Plan of Attack.
Get Everyone in the Loop
Get everyone who needs to be in the loop, in the loop. The owner, the insurance company, the city inspectors – everybody. Do not try to take it on alone. Ensure everyone knows about your Plan of Attack and approves it. You will need the support and feedback of your entire team every step of the way.
Be Relentless in Pushing Your Plan of Attack
Every second that your property is disrupted is costing money. Don’t rely on others to push harder than you do. As Manager, you are the quarterback and must push your team up the field at all times. Call contractors several times a day – or more. Be persistent in ensuring that tasks are completed promptly, even if it means burning a bridge or two down the road. Your priority is to get your park back to normal as quickly as possible.
Conclusion
There is no crisis that you cannot manage your way through. Think logically, build a plan, and attack. With the right approach, you’ll navigate through any crisis successfully.
