alf of every calendar year is designated as hurricane season. Think about that for a moment. For a full six months, from June 1 through November 30, U.S. residents have the potential to deal with these powerful, and often deadly storms. If you don’t live near the coast it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. But the season, and what it can bring is very important to Germania and our policyholders. Each spring, a Colorado State University (CSU) team of scientists issues its initial predictions for hurricane season with additional updates issued in June, July and August. The outlook issued at the beginning of June calls for an average season, with 13 named storms. A list of these names can be found at www.weather.com/ storms/hurricane/news/2019-04-08-hurricane-names- 2019-atlantic-season. As of June 4, CSU is forecasting six hurricanes this year with two of those becoming major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). In comparison, 15 named storms developed in the Atlantic Ocean in 2018. Eight were hurricanes and two were major hurricanes. One was Hurricane Michael, the third-strongest hurricane on record, in terms of pressure, to make landfall in the U.S. This storm also had the strongest winds since Hurricane Andrew and is estimated to have caused $25 billion in damage. Two critical factors playing a role in the CSU predictions this year are the state of El Niño and Atlantic Ocean temperatures. Both factors are currently pointing to a slightly less active season. However, these factors can change at any time. To track the CSU updates to these forecasts, please visit tropical.colostate.edu/. To prepare for hurricane season, the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) urges coastal residents to take time to review their property and auto insurance protection, update their evacuation plans and make an inventory of their property. Once a hurricane is approaching the Texas coast, it may be too late to take needed actions. “Take care of your insurance needs today rather than risk a storm forming in the Gulf and trying to scramble for coverage. You cannot purchase a windstorm
policy once a named storm is in the Gulf and a flood insurance policy takes effect 30 days after purchase,” said Mark Hanna, an ICT spokesperson. Homeowners should act now and take steps to protect their lives and property by preparing an evacuation plan, creating an emergency safety kit and conducting a home inventory. • An evacuation plan is a life-saving action that allows family members to know what role they play in getting out of harm’s way. If advised to evacuate, every plan includes how you will leave and where you will go. • An emergency safety kit is an essential item with every evacuation plan. This kit contains non- perishable food, water, prescriptions, important documents such as your insurance policies, cell phones and chargers, cash, toiletries and clothing. Consider the needs of your pets as well. • Recording all of your personal property with photos or video and securing this information away from your home becomes invaluable when filing a claim. Here are some additional tips to help you weather hurricane season. • Prepare your home by trimming trees and shrubs around your property; cleaning rain gutters and downspouts; collecting and storing loose outdoor items; and purchasing plywood and other materials to help protect your home from damage. • Gather equipment and supplies and store them in a safe, centralized location. • Gather, review and update important documents, such as insurance policies, home inventories and health records. • Make arrangements for pets in case you have to evacuate your home and move to a shelter facility. Be sure pets have tags with your address and phone number. For more information and tips on hurricane preparedness, please visit www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness.
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