From Pools to Preparedness: Addressing Core Summer Safety Concerns

When summer arrives, community life becomes more active. Pools open, patios buzz with gatherings, and kids play outside longer. For HOA boards, this season brings more than sunshine. It brings serious safety responsibilities. Whether your community is a single-family development, a high-rise, or a mixed-use property, summer safety requires intentional planning, proactive oversight, and resident education.

At WRMC, we view safety as part of good stewardship. It is not just about compliance. It is about creating a secure, welcoming environment where every resident can thrive. Summer brings unique safety considerations that demand both urgency and foresight.

Start with the pool. A well-managed pool is a centerpiece of summer enjoyment, but it can also be a source of liability. Accidents often result from unclear rules, inconsistent oversight, or poor maintenance. Every HOA should ensure signage is clear and visible, access points are secure, and regular inspections are documented. Just last week, SaraMarie Blunt of WRMC was visiting a pool and observed that the emergency phone wasn’t functional. Despite this community being managed by another company, she quickly notified the Board and provided recommendations on how to address the issue. These phones are essential for resident safety, ensuring they work is an important part of the Manager’s responsibilities.

Moving indoors, mechanical systems and fire safety protocols deserve close attention. The summer heat strains HVAC systems, and outdated electrical infrastructure can trigger hazards. Boards should coordinate with management to conduct timely inspections of fire panels, extinguishers, and emergency lighting. Mechanical rooms must remain locked, organized, and clearly labeled. In high-rise communities, stairwell lighting, elevator recall procedures, and resident evacuation drills are vital. Communal areas like grilling stations also need oversight to ensure safe usage, especially around holidays.

Preparing for the Unexpected: Outages, Emergencies, and Infrastructure Risk

Power outages and weather events are another seasonal risk, but the real test of preparedness is how a board and management team respond when unexpected hits occur.

On March 4, 2025, a high-rise managed by WRMC, was struck by severe windstorms with gusts exceeding 70 miles per hour. The damage was widespread. Bricks fell from the 14th floor of the building’s 20-wing structure, crushing vehicles in the parking garage. Carport structures were torn apart, air conditioning units were displaced or destroyed, and glass panels shattered across the façade. Debris landed in surrounding areas, even damaging neighboring property.

Before most residents were awake, the WRMC team was already in motion. The Building Engineer arrived at 6:00 a.m. and immediately contacted emergency contractors. RTC Construction was on-site within 30 minutes. Danger zones were quickly cordoned off and cleared. Engineering consultants familiar with the property were engaged that same day to draft repair specifications. Landscape crews arrived to handle tree damage. By 8:14 a.m., before the office officially opened, residents were notified with a clear, calm message about what had happened and what to expect next.

Over the following days, the team continued to provide updates, coordinated access restrictions, and documented every aspect of the event. Although the association ultimately filed a claim, early communication with the insurance carrier and rapid documentation ensured owners could access their loss assessment coverage. Through it all, WRMC’s leadership demonstrated what stewardship looks like under pressure: calm, clear, proactive, and prepared.

This real-world example highlights the importance of having emergency vendors identified in advance, internal coordination protocols ready, and a communication plan that begins before the questions start. Boards should take this as inspiration and a prompt to review their own systems now, before the next storm makes the headlines.

Likewise, medical emergencies do not wait for convenient moments. A sudden cardiac arrest can happen during a community barbecue or while someone is using the fitness center. That is why Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and trained personnel are so important. AEDs should be placed in easily accessible areas and regularly inspected. Boards can host training sessions for residents and staff in partnership with local EMS teams or fire departments. Community readiness comes from people who know how to respond with calm and clarity.

Tailoring all safety strategies to the type of community is critical. Single-family developments may need to focus on landscape maintenance to prevent fire spread, keep walking trails in safe condition, and ensure park rules are communicated during peak usage. High-rise communities must pay closer attention to fire stairwell readiness, system-wide communication tools, and consistent signage throughout each floor. In mixed-use developments, emergency coordination with commercial tenants becomes a shared responsibility. Building-wide testing of fire alarms and HVAC systems that overlap residential and retail spaces should be scheduled regularly. Shared spaces mean shared accountability.

Looking Ahead: Climate, Insurance, and Long-Term Safety Leadership

Beyond these physical safety measures, HOAs are increasingly navigating financial and environmental risk. Climate change is causing more extreme weather, and property insurance costs are rising fast. Communities in high-risk areas are already seeing higher premiums, tighter policy terms, and reduced availability of coverage. Boards need to conduct serious risk assessments with these trends in mind. That includes investing in mitigation measures such as brush clearance or flood drainage systems and staying informed about federal or state policy changes that affect insurance regulation. Strong financial planning is also key. Reserve funds should be reviewed annually and expanded when possible to account for future cost increases or uninsured losses.

Aging infrastructure compounds these issues. In many communities, deferred maintenance is no longer an option. Water leaks, decaying fencing, damaged roofs, and outdated electrical panels pose both safety and liability concerns. Boards must prioritize proactive inspections, act quickly at the first sign of deterioration, and communicate openly with homeowners about long-term infrastructure planning. When necessary, they should explore new funding strategies, such as monetizing underused amenities, applying for grants, or creating dedicated capital improvement accounts. Waiting until something breaks is always more expensive than addressing wear and tear in advance.

Safety also depends on communication. Boards should use multiple channels to keep residents informed and engaged. That could mean posting seasonal reminders in elevators and lobbies, sending regular email updates with safety tips, or offering Q&A time during monthly meetings. Encourage feedback and make it easy for residents to report maintenance concerns or ask questions. The more involved your residents feel, the more responsive your safety culture becomes.

To help your board put this into action, here are three essential steps to reinforce safety this summer.

Step 1: Evaluate the Obvious and the Overlooked
Start with high-use areas like pools, grills, gyms, and playgrounds. Confirm that rules are posted clearly, safety gear is in working order, and access controls function as expected. Then go deeper. Check fire exits, stairwell lighting, and AED placement. Ask what might go unnoticed until it fails.

Step 2: Prepare for Power and Medical Emergencies
Audit your generator systems, confirm backup power test logs, and verify emergency communication protocols. Ensure AEDs are charged and visible. Consider hosting CPR training or a safety walk-through with residents.

Step 3: Communicate, Document, Repeat
Share safety reminders through email, bulletin boards, and digital channels. Document inspections, maintenance logs, and training activities. Establish a habit of reinforcing seasonal safety with clear updates and resident-friendly messaging.

Summer is not just a season. It is a test of a community’s preparedness. It is also an opportunity to reinforce trust between board members, management teams, and residents. When safety measures are visible, consistent, and well-communicated, residents feel cared for and confident in their leadership. The goal is not to eliminate every risk. The goal is to lead with clarity and stewardship.

At WRMC, we believe safety is more than a checklist. It is the clearest sign of effective management. As your community gears up for summer, we encourage boards to think beyond the basics and address the evolving needs of today’s residential environments. From pools to power outages, from fire drills to infrastructure funding, your leadership matters. Let this season be a reminder that smart planning, clear communication, and a commitment to care can make every day safer for everyone.