Another Active Hurricane Season is Coming,Are Your Clients Ready or Not?

Another Active Hurricane Season is Coming,
Are Your Clients Ready or Not?

Since 1984, Colorado State University (CSU) has released its initial predictions for the upcoming season, which is fast approaching and spans June 1st to November 30th. Their reputable forecast is expecting a total of 14 named storms, of which 7 are expected to become hurricanes (and 3 are expected to be major hurricanes), which is slightly above the long-term average. That’s also 14 reasons to prepare your clients now before a storm strikes.

With hurricane winds blasting at 74 mph or higher, they form undetected over warm ocean waters and strike on land in an instant, pushing walls of ocean water ashore. One thing every American Modern® agent should be skilled at is managing surprises before they turn into catastrophes.

So, why are hurricanes such a huge menace anyway?

Your customers may think hurricanes do not affect them because they are not in coastal areas, but Hurricane related storms can reach far inland.  For example, a storm that impacts the gulf coast can continue northward to the mid-west or northeast states. Take Hurricane Ike in 2008, which caused significant damage in Ohio after making landfall on the TX/LA state line. As hurricanes move inland they can spawn tornadic activity and flooding. So, do not allow your clients to let their guard down just because they may not reside in a coastal state. Continue to monitor weather reports and take the necessary precautions to protect their family and property.

Knowing a hurricane’s structure is something we want all of our agents to understand. The eye is the “hole” at the center of the storm. In the eye, winds are light and skies are partly cloudy, or even clear. Contrary to how the phrase “eye of the storm might sound,” it’s typically pretty calm in this area. The eyewall is a ring of thunderstorms swirling around the eye, where winds are strongest and rain is heaviest. It can be the most destructive area of a hurricane. Finally, the rain bands are spiral bands of clouds, rain, and thunderstorms that extend out from a hurricane’s eyewall, and can stretch for hundreds of miles, sometimes containing tornadoes. And if that analysis doesn’t make the gravity of these storms real, just last year, in 2017, hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria reminded us of Mother Nature’s destructive force and the need for proper storm planning.

The alphabetical naming of storms alone indicates how active hurricane season is. Since more than one hurricane may exist at the same time, names make it easier to keep track of and talk about these storms. They escalate very quickly too, starting as a tropical disturbance and growing into a tropical depression (an area of rotating thunderstorms with winds of 38 mph or less). Then, a tropical depression becomes a tropical storm once its winds reach 39 mph. And a tropical storm becomes a hurricane if its winds reach 74 mph. Helping our customers become equipped before the active hurricane season is what sets American Modern® agents apart from competitors.

What are the damage risks?

Let’s be honest, hurricanes are no joke. We saw the severity of Hurricane Sandy through every news channel, including social media. It was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Inflicting nearly $70 billion in damage[1], it was the second-costliest hurricane on record in the United States. It was only surpassed by hurricanes Harvey and Maria in 2017. Sandy was a Category 3 storm, with its peak intensity occurring when it made landfall in Cuba. While it was a Category 2 hurricane off the coast of the Northeastern United States, Hurricane Sandy affected 24 states, including the entire eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine and west across the Appalachian Mountains to Michigan and Wisconsin, with particularly severe damage in New Jersey and New York. When its storm surge hit New York City on October 29, it flooded streets, tunnels and subway lines and cut power in and around the city. Damage in the United States alone amounted to $65 billion.

Culprits that cause the most damage risks:

  • Water pushed ashore by storm surges cause the most damage of any of the hurricane hazards.
  • Winds topping 200 mph also leave a path of destruction to buildings.
  • Even lower category storms can cause dangerous flooding.
  • Inland flooding can cause damages to homes and businesses that are far away from the coast.
  • Tornados commonly form quickly once a storm hits the shore.
  • Rip currents and rough seas are a huge issue both before and after hurricanes.

 

What tips can prepare our clients for these severe events?

Knowing where to go and what to take when a hurricane warning is issued is key. Make sure your clients have an evacuation plan and plenty hurricane supplies. Remind them to not wait for the flood waters to rise to evacuate.  By that time emergency assistance may not be available.

Useful evacuation tips:

  • Make sure you find a boarding facility in a safe zone for your family pets.
  • Identify more than one route in case you encounter roadblocks. (This includes having a[…]

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homeowner/mobile home/ renter’s /automobile / motorcycle / life / commercial / crop insurance.
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The Portier Agency, LLC
113 North Irwin Avenue
Ocilla, GA 31774
229-468-3444
portieragency@windstream.net