Storm Response in New Orleans: When the Weather Hits, We Stay
Most property managers leave before a hurricane makes landfall. They board up their own house, evacuate their family, and check back in once the roads are clear and the power is back. In the meantime, their properties sit unattended — and the owners sit somewhere out of state, watching the storm track on their phones, waiting for news that may not come for days. Effective storm response in New Orleans requires someone who stays, assesses, and communicates — and that is exactly what we do.
I am David Coxe, and I don’t leave. Furthermore, I have been through more storms than I can count in forty years of managing property in this city. Hurricanes, tropical storms, the kind of heavy rain events that turn streets into rivers in forty-five minutes — I stay because the properties I manage need someone on the ground, and because the owners who trust me with their investment deserve to hear from me directly, not wonder.
Storm Response New Orleans: What Happens Before the Weather Arrives
Responsible storm response in New Orleans starts before the storm does. When a significant weather event is tracking toward the city, we are already in communication with tenants. Specifically, we make sure they know how to secure outdoor furniture and fixtures, where to find the shutoff locations for gas and water, and how to reach us if something happens during the storm.
In addition, we conduct pre-storm walkthroughs of managed properties when conditions allow. A gate that doesn’t latch properly, a roof flashing that was already borderline, a door seal that won’t hold against wind-driven rain — small vulnerabilities before a storm become expensive damage after one. Consequently, catching them early is one of the most cost-effective things we do. The National Hurricane Center is the authoritative source for tracking storm systems approaching Louisiana.
“I’ve walked properties the morning after a Category 2 with owners on the phone who were sitting in a hotel room in Baton Rouge. The peace of mind of hearing a calm voice telling you what you’re actually dealing with — that’s what this service is.”
Post-Storm Property Assessment: What Happens After the Weather Passes
The moment it is safe to move through the city, I am moving. Every managed property gets a full assessment — not from the curb. I go inside, I go on the roof if the situation requires it, and I document everything I find. Moreover, I photograph every point of damage in enough detail to support an insurance claim and to give a contractor an accurate scope of work.
After the assessment, I call the owner directly. Not a text with a vague update — a real conversation about what I found, what it will take to address it, and what the next steps are. If a property has significant damage, we are already coordinating emergency repairs rather than waiting for a contractor to return a call.
For context on what proper post-storm property maintenance looks like as part of our ongoing service, visit our Property Maintenance page.
The Contractor Problem After a New Orleans Storm
After every significant storm, New Orleans fills with out-of-state contractors who take deposits from desperate property owners and disappear before the work is finished. This is not speculation — it happens after every major weather event in this city. Therefore, having a vetted contractor network in place before damage occurs is one of the most important protections a property owner can have.
Our contractor network has been built over forty years. These are licensed professionals who are based here year-round, who stand behind their work, and who we can reach at midnight if something needs to be addressed immediately. After a storm is precisely when that network matters most. We vet the contractor before the damage happens — because that is the only way to be truly ready when it does.
Storm Response Beyond Hurricanes: Rain, Flooding, and Freezes
New Orleans does not save its weather events for named storms. The city regularly sees heavy rain events that drop several inches in under an hour, drainage systems that back up, and localized flooding that can put water in a ground-floor unit without any official storm declaration. Additionally, freeze events — rare in New Orleans but devastating when they occur — can burst pipes in properties that have never needed winterization.
When a freeze is coming, we communicate with tenants in advance about leaving faucets dripping, opening cabinet doors under sinks, and how to shut off water if a pipe bursts. We identify vulnerable properties beforehand. And if a pipe does fail, we have someone on it before the water does lasting damage to floors, drywall, and ceilings.
This year-round weather awareness is also connected to how we screen tenants — specifically, ensuring tenants understand their preparation responsibilities. Learn more about our tenant screening process and what we communicate to tenants before they sign a lease.
What We Provide
- Pre-storm tenant communication and property walkthroughs
- Immediate post-storm assessment of every managed property
- Photographic documentation for insurance claims
- Emergency repair coordination through a vetted, licensed contractor network
- Direct owner communication throughout the entire weather event
- Year-round response to flooding, heavy rain, and freeze events
If you own property in New Orleans and your current property manager doesn’t stay through storms, that is worth thinking about before the next hurricane season begins. Call David directly at 504-232-1672.