Reviewed August 2026. An emergency plan is not a list of phone numbers in a drawer. It is a short chain of authority: who receives the alert, who can enter, what they may approve and how evidence reaches the owner and insurer.

1. Name a primary responder and two backups

Choose a person or professional who can reach the property, identify immediate hazards and coordinate qualified help. Add two backups for nights, holidays and absence. Confirm their service area, response expectations and whether they hold suitable insurance. A neighbour can be an excellent observer without being made responsible for technical decisions.

2. Create a one-page property response sheet

• Property address, map pin and safe access instructions
• Owner and responder contact order
• Location of water, electrical and gas shut-offs where applicable
• Alarm, gate, pool, solar and equipment providers
• Insurer, policy number and claim contact route
• Approved emergency spending limit and second-approval threshold
• Known risks: vacant periods, pets, tenants, medical equipment or vulnerable neighbours

Keep secrets separate. Do not place alarm codes, door codes, passport copies or payment details in a widely shared checklist. Use a controlled password manager or another secure handover method and revoke access when a role ends.

3. Use a simple escalation matrix

• Immediate threat to life or public safety: call Aruba’s central emergency number, 911.
• Active water escape: stop the property-side supply when it is safe, photograph the meter and source, and contact an appropriate plumber. WEB lists separate contact routes for its emergency service and public pipeline leakage.
• Electrical smell, heat, sparks or fire: do not improvise repairs; prioritise evacuation, 911 and a qualified electrician after the scene is safe.
• Alarm or suspected break-in: do not enter an unsafe property. Use the alarm provider and police route, then preserve photographs and access logs.
• Equipment failure without immediate danger: prevent secondary damage, obtain a written diagnosis and follow the owner’s approval threshold.

4. Give the responder written authority

Define what the responder may do without waiting: isolate water, arrange emergency boarding, move vulnerable contents or approve work up to a fixed amount. State what always needs owner approval, such as permanent replacement, structural work or a non-emergency contract. Utilities, insurers and associations may require their own authorisation forms.

5. Prepare before severe weather

• Follow Aruba government and official emergency-management updates rather than forwarded social-media messages
• Clear roof drains and secure loose outdoor items
• Check shutters, doors, pumps, backup power and exterior lighting
• Charge communication devices and verify responder availability
• Photograph the property before the event for condition evidence
• Plan a post-event inspection only when authorities say conditions are safe

6. Document the first 24 hours

The responder should record the alert time, arrival time, visible damage, safety actions, people contacted and every instruction received. Take wide and close photographs before cleanup where safe. Keep damaged items unless the insurer authorises disposal, and separate emergency mitigation from permanent repair estimates.

7. Test the plan twice a year

Run a ten-minute tabletop test: the water alarm activates at 02:00 while the primary responder is unavailable. Can the backup enter, find the shut-off, contact the owner and document the loss? Update names, access, policy details and spending limits after every test, contractor change or stay.

Printable owner check

• Primary responder and two backups confirmed
• Secure access tested and logged
• Water and electrical isolation points labelled
• 911 and current provider contacts saved
• Insurance notification rules reviewed
• Photo inventory and equipment serial numbers current
• Repair approval limits documented
• Next plan test entered in the calendar

A dependable response plan complements routine oversight. Read how to choose a property manager in Aruba, use the annual maintenance checklist, and keep the Aruba utilities guide with your property file.