4
January 2017
Inside the Storm (Continued From Previous Page)
wrong, some believe that if you are lucky enough to be here
during a time without a major storm, then you shouldn’t
have to pay for those who aren’t as lucky. (Nearly 30 years
ago, KICA assessed each property owner $988 for Hurricane
Hugo, and there hasn’t been a major storm assessment
since.) Second, how much do you set aside? It’s a nearly
impossible question to answer as you don’t know when the
storms will come, their severity, etc. Finally, there is nothing
that ensures the money will be spent just on storms. Wellmeaning boards could continuously fund a storm reserve for
years, only to have a future board see a different use for that
stockpile of cash. Finally, insurance is either not available
or cost prohibitive on infrastructure such as boardwalks,
roads, bridges and docks. Further, community associations
are not eligible to apply for FEMA aid which means most
costs to restore our private community must be borne by our
members. KICA participates in a nation-wide lobbying effort
to change FEMA regulations, which is beginning to get the
attention of members of Congress.
As we continue our recovery efforts, we proudly reflect back on the
extraordinary job done by our entire team. The most visible were
those in the field - such as security and land management team
members, and there were many behind the scenes heroes, too.
KICA’s phone lines were forwarded to Senior Member Services
Representative Nancy Root’s home since we didn’t have power
on the island. She cheerfully responded to member inquiries
as if she were sitting at her desk, and communicated relevant
information to personnel in the field. Recreation Director Kay
Narmour and her team made sure that law enforcement, land
management staff, and others working to restore the island had
lunches. Our engineering team worked to assess infrastructure,
our communications team continually disseminated timely
information, and many, many others focused on Kiawah before
dealing with their own personal property. We also want to thank
the Town of Kiawah Island, and Town Administrator Stephanie
Tillerson in particular, for being an extraordinary partner before,
during and after the storm, and working collaboratively toward
a common goal like never before.