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Condo management in a storm makes the difference in how quickly the response arrives: the lines are not left busy, there is an in-house maintenance team, a network of more than 1,600 suppliers and the know-how of people who have already been on the ground. On 10 November 2026, we had already received more than 100 contacts from condominium owners because of Depression Charles, and we are following the situation closely, responding to every occurrence.
In short
- On 28 January 2026, Storm Kristin crossed the mainland with extreme wind; the ANEPC reported five deaths and more than 8,000 occurrences.
- Depression Charles is the system that now requires the same attention: the ANEPC notice of 9 November 2026 forecasts rain, gusts of up to 120 km/h and rough seas.
- On 10 November 2026, we had already received more than 100 contacts from condominium owners and we are following the situation closely, responding to every occurrence.
- The difference condo management in a storm makes is measured in lines that are not left busy, an in-house maintenance team, a network of more than 1,600 suppliers and accumulated know-how.
- Before and during the storm, follow the ANEPC notice: clear drains, collect or secure objects on balconies and terraces, avoid garages and areas that usually flood, and do not cross flooded areas.
What Kristin showed and what Charles now requires
In the early hours of 28 January 2026, Storm Kristin crossed mainland Portugal. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) (in Portuguese) named a depression that formed on the southern edge of Storm Joseph and underwent explosive cyclogenesis west of the Portuguese coast. It was, above all, a wind storm, with a sting jet. Among the gusts recorded, the IPMA reports 156 km/h at Leiria aerodrome and 175.9 km/h at Monte Real air base.
The impact on the ground was severe. In a National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) assessment released by RTP (in Portuguese), the depression caused five deaths and more than 8,000 occurrences, mainly fallen trees and structures, with Greater Lisbon, the West (Oeste) and Coimbra among the worst-affected regions. PÚBLICO (in Portuguese) reported that the IPMA considered Kristin may have been the strongest storm on record.
Nine months later, another named system is again putting buildings to the test. On 9 November 2026, at 20:30, the ANEPC issued public notice AVISO/21/DCS/2026 (in Portuguese) on Depression Charles: periods of rain or showers, temporarily heavy, with the possibility of thunderstorms; strong wind, with gusts of up to 120 km/h; and rough seas, with west/south-westerly waves of 4 to 5 metres. On the same day, the IPMA published a special statement (in Portuguese) on the rain, wind and rough seas associated with this depression. The Government declared an alert situation (in Portuguese) for 11 November, with the closure of schools and of non-essential public services.
For a condominium, Kristin’s lesson and what Charles now requires are the same: in condo management in a storm, what counts is prevention in the common parts, a telephone that is answered, and the capacity to get people and suppliers on the ground when a roof, a drain or a garage fails.
A rapid response and lines that are not left busy
When the wind rises and the rain persists, dozens of owners may call at the same time: a garage flooding, a pot loose on a terrace, a tree down in the courtyard, a shutter banging. In a small administration, a busy line or an absent manager leaves the building without a response. That is precisely when the telephone most needs to work.
In our system, the call is identified and routed to the building’s manager; if that person is busy or away, it goes to a colleague with access to the same history. We explained this model in the article on the end of the busy line. The point is simple: the owner should not find the line busy in the middle of a storm.
We administer more than 600 condominiums. On 10 November 2026, we had already received more than 100 contacts from condominium owners and we are following the situation closely, responding to every occurrence. Volume, on its own, is not a measure of quality; in condo management in a storm, what matters is that each contact finds a free line and a follow-up.
An in-house maintenance team, routes and more than 1,600 suppliers
An answered telephone is only the first step. Next, someone needs to be able to look at the roof, clear a drain, secure a loose element or open the way for a specialist. That is why we have an in-house maintenance team and plan technical visits with routes that separate the urgent from the routine and are recalculated when a new occurrence comes in. How those visits work, day to day, is also described in the article on inspections in a condominium (in Portuguese).
Not everything is resolved by the in-house team. Tiles ripped from a roof, a damaged gate, a failed pump or a tree that needs to be made safe may require a specialist. For that we have a network of more than 1,600 suppliers, which we activate when the occurrence goes beyond the first intervention.
Know-how counts here, in condo management in a storm. After a storm such as Kristin, we know which parts of the building suffer first: roofs and gutters, terraces, façades with loose elements, underground garages, trees in the courtyards. The same knowledge serves prevention, which we set out in the guide to preventive roof maintenance in autumn.
What to do in condo management in a storm
The recommendations that follow come from ANEPC notice AVISO/21/DCS/2026 (in Portuguese), of 9 November 2026, at 20:30, on Depression Charles, and are adapted here to the common parts of a building. The full text is on the public notices page. Also follow the IPMA forecasts and warnings (in Portuguese).
- Keep rainwater drainage systems clear and remove loose material and objects that could be swept away or block free drainage. In the building, this includes gutters, downpipes, courtyard and terrace drains, and garage ramps.
- Collect or properly secure outdoor objects and structures that could be swept away by the wind, including scaffolding, hoardings and hanging structures.
- On balconies, terraces and parapets, remove or secure pots, garden furniture and other items that could be thrown by the wind.
- Close and reinforce shutters and windows, especially those facing the direction of the wind.
- Do not park vehicles in areas that usually flood, in underground locations or in wooded areas. In the condominium, this includes garages and ramps with a history of flooding.
- Do not cross flooded areas, so as to avoid people or vehicles being swept into holes in the pavement or open drain covers.
- Avoid staying near watercourses, beaches, cliffs, breakwaters and riverside areas exposed to rough seas, and avoid unnecessary travel during the periods of heaviest rain and wind.
- Ensure alternative means of lighting and that communication devices are fully charged.
- Stay informed through the IPMA and follow the recommendations of Civil Protection and the security forces.
The ANEPC also warns of effects that speak directly to buildings: urban flooding from the build-up of rainwater and inadequate drainage systems; slope instability; falling trees, branches and mobile or poorly secured structures; objects being swept onto the public road; and possible local interruptions to the electricity supply and to communications.
After the storm: report and follow up
When the wind eases, the work of condo management in a storm is not over. A visual check of the common parts helps to detect damage before it gets worse: the roof and gutters, terraces and waterproofing, façades and balconies, the garage and ramps, trees and loose elements in the courtyards, gates and doors and, if there was a power cut, the common electrical distribution boards.
Anyone who spots an occurrence should report it to the administration as soon as possible, with photographs, the location in the building and an indication of whether there is an immediate risk to people. A timely report also helps if the building insurance needs to be triggered: keep a record of what was seen, when, and what was done. The assessment of each policy depends on the insurance contract; what we can say is that a complete record makes the process clearer.
We are following the situation closely and responding to every occurrence that reaches us. If you live in a building we administer, contact us through the usual channels. If your building is not administered by us, the ANEPC recommendations remain the starting point, and the administration should be informed without delay.
Verified trust: the DECO seal and the Cinco Estrelas Award
In a storm, trust is not a slogan: it is the combination of a process that works and an external look at that process. Condoroo holds the DECO PROteste Condomínio Approved Service seal, which assesses management practices, reliability, transparency and client satisfaction. In 2026, we also won the Cinco Estrelas Regiões Award in Lisbon, in the Condominium Administration category.
Neither a seal nor an award replaces work on the ground. They do, however, give owners an independent criterion with which to compare how a company organises itself — including when, in a few hours, more than a hundred contacts arrive and each one needs a response.
Kristin showed the cost of the wind and of buildings that were poorly prepared. Charles now requires the same attention: clear drainage, safe terraces, a telephone that is answered and a team that can get to the site. That is the difference condo management in a storm can make.
Condo management in a storm: frequently asked questions
What should the condominium do before a storm?
Clear gutters, downpipes and drains, remove or secure pots, furniture and other objects on balconies, terraces and parapets, and secure loose outdoor structures, such as scaffolding or hoardings. The ANEPC notice of 9 November 2026 (AVISO/21/DCS/2026) also asks that shutters and windows facing the wind be closed and reinforced, and that vehicles not be parked in areas that usually flood, in underground locations or in wooded areas. In condo management in a storm, these steps, taken in time, reduce the risk in the common parts.
Who should I report an occurrence in the building to during bad weather?
To the condominium administration, as soon as possible, with photographs, the location in the common parts and an indication of whether there is an immediate risk to people. If the building is administered by Condoroo, contact us through the usual channels: the lines are organised so that they are not left busy and, on 10 November 2026, we were responding to every occurrence that reached us.
Why does condo management in a storm make a difference?
Because the response depends on capacity, not only on goodwill. Professional management brings together lines that are not left busy, an in-house maintenance team, visit routes that are recalculated when a new occurrence comes in, a network of more than 1,600 suppliers and the know-how of those who have already followed episodes such as Kristin.
Can I leave pots and furniture on the balcony if the storm is mainly rain?
It is still prudent to collect or secure them. The ANEPC notice for Depression Charles also forecasts strong wind, with gusts of up to 120 km/h, and expressly asks for objects on balconies, terraces and parapets to be secured or removed, because they can be thrown by the wind and injure people or damage the building.
What should I do if the garage or basement starts to flood?
Do not enter areas that are already flooded and do not try to drive through the water. Alert the administration at once and, if there is a risk to people, the authorities. The ANEPC recommends not parking in underground locations or in areas that usually flood, precisely to reduce this risk. Afterwards, document what happened with photographs, for the occurrence and, if need be, for the insurance.
After the storm, what should be checked in the common parts?
The roof and gutters, terraces and waterproofing, façades and balconies, the garage and ramps, trees and loose elements in the courtyards, gates and, if there was a power cut, the common electrical distribution boards. Any damage should be reported to the administration with as much detail as possible, so that the intervention can be prioritised and a record kept.
How is Condoroo responding to Depression Charles?
On 10 November 2026, we had already received more than 100 contacts from condominium owners and we are following the situation closely, responding to every occurrence. In condo management in a storm, we draw on the in-house maintenance team, the visit routes and, when needed, the network of more than 1,600 suppliers. If you live in one of the more than 600 condominiums we administer, use the usual contact channels.
This article is for information only. The safety recommendations follow the ANEPC notice and the IPMA statements; always check the warnings in force for your area.
