Hurricane Isaias Puts Community Association Recovery in Focus for Millions of Homeowners

Community Associations Institute provides recovery resources and advocacy as communities rebuild after Hurricane Isaias.

MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As communities recover from Hurricane Isaias, Community Associations Institute is mobilizing resources and guidance to help homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives navigate recovery. With nearly 1 in 4 Americans living in a community association, the storm underscores CAI’s federal advocacy to ensure these communities have equitable access to FEMA disaster assistance.

According to the Foundation for Community Association Research, 78.1 million Americans live in 373,000 community associations nationwide. These associations maintain shared property and infrastructure, making their ability to recover from major disasters important to homeowners and the broader U.S. housing market.

“When a hurricane damages a community, recovery can be complicated, from assessing property damage and navigating insurance claims to removing debris, repairing shared infrastructure, and accessing disaster assistance,” says Dawn M. Bauman, CAE, chief executive officer of Community Associations Institute. “We’re focused on bringing together the right expertise, helping communities navigate that process, and advocating for the resources and support they need to recover.”

• Helping Communities Recover

CAI is coordinating with affected communities to identify needs and provide timely information as they assess damage, navigate insurance, coordinate cleanup, and begin repairs.

CAI encourages communities to prioritize safety, document damage and expenses, contact insurance providers, coordinate with local officials, keep homeowners informed, and use qualified contractors. More detailed guidance is available through CAI’s Disaster Recovery Resources.

• Advocating for Fair Access to Disaster Assistance

Hurricane Isaias also highlights the need to ensure community associations have fair access to federal disaster recovery programs. Although homeowners living in community associations pay the same federal taxes as homeowners outside these communities, their communities can face barriers to federal assistance for needs such as removing debris from privately maintained roads and waterways or repairing critical condominium common elements.

CAI supports H.R. 834 and S. 352, the Disaster Assistance Fairness Act, which would expand access to federal assistance for debris removal from community association roads and waterways and critical condominium common-element repairs. CAI also supports H.R. 4669, the FEMA Act of 2025, including provisions that would improve access to federal assistance for disaster-related debris removal.

CAI will continue working with its chapters, members, government officials, and housing stakeholders to help communities recover from Hurricane Isaias and strengthen their ability to prepare for future disasters. For the latest recovery guidance, resources, and information for community associations affected by the storm, visit CAI’s Hurricane Isaias Resource Center.

Blaine Tobin
Community Associations Institute
+1 703-970-9235
btobin@caionline.org