Each year around this time I do my best to keep your attention while discussing the approaching hurricane season and what it could bring. We know from experience there is never a good time to begin thinking of such things, and in actuality, many of us try to put off thinking of the potential for natural disasters. There are so many other things going on this time of year like spring break and the excitement of summer right around the corner, do we really have to think about the negative things Mother Nature can dish out? With some out of the ordinary landfalls the last couple of years, it seems we should all pay attention and do our best to be prepared.
Each year around this time, a famous forecasting team from Colorado State University releases forecasts for the impending hurricane season. This year, they predict a 72% chance at least one storm will strengthen to a major hurricane and make landfall somewhere on the United States’ coast. The following prediction is the one that grabs my attention; the 2013 hurricane season is expected to have 95 named-storm days, with 40 of those days occupied by a hurricane.
Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray, of CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science, call for eighteen named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater strength during the2013 Atlantic hurricane season. They predict a 48% chance of a major-hurricane landfall on the East Coast of the United States and a 47% chance a major hurricane strikes one of the Gulf Coast States, including the West Coast of Florida.
These probabilities are well-above the historical average for the last century, according to the report.
Of course, trying to predict Mother Nature is as close to an impossible task as one could surmount. Particularly when trying to predict it months ahead of time. However, the forecasters will be releasing updates to their predictions on June 1st and in August. Just in case you’re curious, last year the CSU team in August predicted fourteen named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. In fact, there were nineteen named storms, ten hurricanes and two major hurricanes during the Atlantic Hurricane season.
For those near the Coastal regions of the United States, now is the time to prepare. Do not be caught off guard or unsure of insurance coverage. Review policies to confirm coverage, discuss other available coverage with insurance agents/representatives, photograph the insured property before any event, conduct basic maintenance like tree trimming and debris removal, and obtain peace of mind knowing that proactive steps have been taken. You can even locate loss consultants who may be able to assist with preparations.
