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As human beings, we see those caught up in the destruction wrought
by natural disasters, and we feel compassion for them. Compassion calls us
to action and to become involved in relieving another's pain. Despite this,
however, those of us working in the housing industry have requirements
to meet and we are driven by our missions to spring into action when
disaster strikes. Which, lately, seems to be just about all the time. Balancing
the humanitarian response with the pragmatic business response takes
foresight, effort, and application.
In 2021, we saw what will likely be a
record-breaking number of natural disasters,
with losses exceeding $1 billion each. In
October, the number was 18. No one could
have guessed that tornadoes would devastate
a 350-mile path through America's heartland
just a few weeks later, nor predicted the year's
close with the destructive fires in Colorado,
destroying nearly 1,000 homes.
Being prepared for the worst is a mandate
we all share, but because storms, earthquakes,
and wildfires no longer seem to be confined to
a season, we're called to exist in a constant state
of preparedness.
It may sound impossible, but every lender,
mortgage servicer, and service provider can
be prepared before the next disaster strikes. I
know this is true because, as the daughter of a
Coast Guard serviceman, I have lived disaster
preparedness since I was very young. e
fundamentals that were instilled in me provided
valuable insight that I have applied in business
application over the course of my career.
Feature By: Angela Hurst
CONSTANT
PREPAREDNESS IN A
DANGEROUS WORLD
How can the mortgage servicing industry best balance pragmatic needs against a
humane response to natural disasters?
