Local HBA Helps Members and Community Weather the Storm

Membership
Published
Contact: Jonathan Falk
[email protected]
Director, Disaster Operations
(202) 266-8005

Home builders associations across the Federation continuously seek out new initiatives to support their members and communities. As a part of the Gold Coast Builders Association (GCBA) culture of membership, the association came up with a new approach to the ongoing challenge of preparing for hurricane season. On May 12, the HBA hosted the region's first small business Residential Construction Hurricane Preparedness Seminar in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Frank R. Coppola, III, owner of Coppola Brothers LLC and GCBA 2nd Vice President, enlisted the support of NAHB Disaster Relief Specialist Jonathan Falk, and GCBA members passionate about storm preparation and came up with the concept for the preparedness seminar and public service event. The proposed event was in response to the influx of new residential construction industry professionals and community residents in the region ahead of what is forecasted to be an active hurricane season.

“It has been several years since the Gold Coast of Florida has been threatened by a tropical storm or hurricane," said Coppola. "For our Gold Coast Builders Association members and other construction and remodeling professionals presenting the first small business preparedness seminar for the residential construction professional provided the skills needed to prepare for, survive and recover should a tropical system impact our area.”

The day-long seminar was well-attended by GCBA members and local elected officials. Falk guided participants on how to draft an emergency business plan, also known as a continuity of operations (COOP). The plan can help assess probable hazards to businesses and identify what measures might be needed to mitigate risks for hurricane season. The guidance is available to all NAHB members on nahb.org.

Following the robust training session, participants and sponsors assembled 250 “Buckets of Help” for five area non-profit organizations. K.T. Catlin, executive officer, GCBA said the buckets were filled with preparedness items like waterproof document holders, flash drives and other items donated by member businesses. “These items will help those in need to be better prepared for the worse Mother Nature will send our way.”

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Disaster Response

Sep 12, 2025

Builders’ Guide to Keeping Job Sites and Communities Prepared

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual federal initiative to raise awareness and equip individuals, businesses and communities with the tools they need to prepare for disasters.

IBS | Awards

Sep 11, 2025

2026 Best of IBS Awards Open

The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) recognizes the outstanding building products and services with the Best of IBS Awards. Apply by Nov. 21, 2025, to showcase your products.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Sep 12, 2025

Household Real Estate Asset Values Reach New High

The market value of household real estate assets rose to $49.3 trillion in the second quarter of 2025, according to the most recent release of U.S. Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts. The value rose by 2.7% from the first quarter and is 1.1% higher than a year ago. This measure of market value estimates the value of all owner-occupied real estate nationwide.

Economics

Sep 11, 2025

Parking Trends in Newly Completed Single-Family Homes, 2024

In 2024, 65% of newly completed single-family homes featured two-car garages, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census’s Survey of Construction data. The share of new homes with three or more car garages stood at 15%, continuing a downward trend from its peak of 24% in 2015 and decreasing 2 percentage points from 2023.

Economics

Sep 10, 2025

Year-over-Year Building Material Price Growth Advances

Price growth for residential building materials rose for the fourth straight month in August, reaching its highest level since January 2023. Across domestic inputs goods and services into residential construction, service prices decreased in August while goods prices slightly advanced.