Originally published 5/6/2019
Hurricane Season
Hurricane season starts June 1st! Now is the time to review your flood insurance needs – because most policies have a 30 day waiting period before coverage starts. If there is a hurricane headed our way, it’s too late to get coverage. That’s like trying to call for car insurance after you have an accident. Remember that your homeowner’s insurance DOES NOT cover flood damage! Remember as well that hurricanes aren’t the only source of flooding. Any source of rising water, even heavy rainfall, can cause flood damage. In fact, 20% of claims come from moderate to low risk zones.
Forecast
The good news is that we are anticipating a milder season. Thanks to continuing weak El Nino activity, the University of Colorado is forecasting a slightly lower than normal hurricane season this year. The forecast from April 4th is for a total of 13 named storms, 5 of which will be hurricanes. 2 of the 5 hurricanes are forecasted to be major hurricanes.
The probability for at least one major hurricane landfall for the U.S. East coast is forecast at 28%, below the average of 31%. The probability for the gulf coast is also 28%, below the gulf coast average of 30%.
Tracking
The National Hurricane Center maintains an interesting and useful site for tracking named storms through the season. Whenever a storm is named, the NHC will have all the latest forecast information. Particularly interesting are their tracking maps that show the best estimates of the storm’s path over the next several days.
Preparation
If it looks like a storm is headed our way, pay close attention the news and be ready to evacuate. If you choose not to evacuate, be aware that emergency services WILL NOT be available to help until after the storm has passed. In other words, you won’t be able to call 911.
If you are not in an evacuation zone, you can still evacuate voluntarily. If you stay, FEMA recommends you have enough supplies to last at least 72 hours. Be prepared for all of your utilities to shut down.
For more details, we have prepared a hurricane readiness guide that we will be happy to send to you.
Click Here for our Hurricane Guide
References:
https://tropical.colostate.edu/media/sites/111/2019/04/2019-04.pdf
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4310-4313/updates/facts-and-myths-about-flood-insurance
Is flood insurance worth it? https://www.houselogic.com/finances-taxes/home-insurance/is-flood-insurance-worth-it/
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes