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| Mexico Beach, Fl after Hurricane Michael |
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In October of 2018, a modest looking tropical system off the western tip of Cuba defied all predictions and spun up - over a 48 hour period - into a Category 5 hurricane which scoured parts of the Florida panhandle and into southern Georgia (see NOAA: 2018 Hurricane Michael Upgraded To CAT 5).
While much stronger than predicted at landfall, Michael's forecast track was dead on, and so most people got out of the way. Still, 16 people died.But as result, tens of thousands of those who returned found their homes, boats, and businesses completely destroyed or heavily damaged. While many homes have yet to be rebuilt, and the insurance claims process has not always gone smoothly, those who were well insured are far better off than those who were underinsured (or uninsured) for a catastrophic event.
Day 4 of NOAA's National Hurricane Preparedness Week is all about getting the right insurance before hurricane seasons starts.
Call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. Don’t forget coverage for your car or boat. Remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for it, and it’s available through your company, agent or the National Flood Insurance Program at floodsmart.gov. Act now as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
FLASH Insurance Guide: If Disaster Strikes, Will You Be Covered?
Find available coverage at floodsmart.gov
Over the past 30 days we've seen a variety of early season forecast models released by forecasters at Colorado State University, Pennsylvania State University ESSC, the Weather Channel, and the experts at University College London Tropical Storm Risk center that all call for an above-average Atlantic Hurricane Season.
While these early season forecasts could be adjusted downward later this summer, the long-rage ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) forecast is for an ENSO-neutral conditions through the summer, with a possible shift to a La Niña by the fall.
Simply put, La Niña conditions in the Pacific are generally conducive to a more active Atlantic Hurricane season, while El Niño is generally associated with a less active season.
When, or even if, a transition to La Niña occurs is unknown, but if it arrives early enough, it could exacerbate this year's Atlantic Hurricane Season.
While none of this can tell you whether you'll be impacted by a major hurricane this season, by the time you see that you are in the forecast track of a storm, it will be too late to buy insurance. Like all types of preparedness, buying insurance needs to be done well in advance.
