Article Courtesy of  The Miami Herald

By DONNA GEHRKE-WHITE

Published March 12, 2006

Like many condos throughout South Florida, the Silver Thatch Atlantic Plaza in Pompano Beach will enter this year's hurricane season still struggling to repair heavy damage from last year.

''The hurricane was bad but the aftermath is worse,'' says Maria Tisa-Knapp, property manager at the 362-unit Silver Thatch.

Wilma walloped aging condo buildings throughout South Florida, ripping off roofs, sucking out windows and destroying air conditioners.

Less than three months before another hurricane season kicks in, owners fear that their damaged buildings won't be ready to withstand a new hurricane's brutal winds and rains.

''You wouldn't believe how many buildings are still damaged,'' says Jan Bergemann, president of Cyber Citizens for Justice, a statewide grass-roots, community association group.

''It's frightening if we get hit with another major storm,'' adds Bill Raphan, Florida's assistant condo ombudsman.

He is urging boards to focus on fixing the structural problems such as damaged roofs to keep out another hurricane. Shutters or plywood are also a must, even if they cover still broken windows.

The Silver Thatch is luckier than many condos: It has a new roof and cooling tower. But the Silver Thatch still needs to replace interior walls as well as the windows that blew out during Wilma.

''We probably lost 75 to 80 percent'' of the windows, says Tisa-Knapp.

It may take several years to replace all the complex's windows because the building needs to do concrete restoration at the same time. ''We're trying to negotiate with a contractor now,'' she says.

But what is slowing down repairs, she says, is that the complex still has not received its full insurance settlement. So far, the insurance company has paid $700,000 -- but they have $4 million in repairs. ''And there's more to come,'' Tisa-Knapp says.

Other buildings also are still waiting for insurance settlements. Insurance companies say they are acting as quickly as they can and have already processed most claims. Citizens Property Insurance has taken care of 95 percent of all of Wilma's claims, according to spokesman Justin Glover. State Farm's Michal Shanley says it has finished 93 percent of its claims.

Condo boards, like home owners, are also facing a shortage of workers and building materials, says Donna D. Berger, president of the Community Association Leadership Lobby (CALL), a group of Florida community associations.

Roofing materials are especially hard to come by.

Despite the scarcity, condominium complexes are still trying to learn from Wilma's lessons and better prepare their buildings for another hurricane season.

''The last hurricane season was a real eye opener,'' Berger says.

Many associations, she adds, are now trying to work out plans if another hurricane cuts off electricity for days.

Some discovered their generators for elevators didn't work after Wilma blacked out the entire area, with many enduring no electricity for more than a week.

''A lot of them are now trying to get generators for the elevators,'' she says.

Joseph Buerk, president of the 61-unit Seacrest Towers in Pompano Beach, says his building is working on a disaster plan.

Assistant condo ombudsman Raphan recommends that boards have lists of owners and their special needs, such as special medication.

Condo boards should also be making plans to remove lawn chairs and other outside furniture if a hurricane appears, adds Ann Coughlin, former board president of the 129-unit Voyager condominiums in Pompano Beach.

''You don't want flying missiles,'' she says.