Hurricane season causes huge damage in the United States almost every time it comes around. Climate change has caused an increase in the frequency and severity of hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricanes amongst the most costly disasters, often causing far more damage than tornadoes or earthquakes or fire. In this blog we explore the basics around hurricane season, and what you can do if your property is at risk.

What is hurricane season?

Hurricane season is the time of year that hurricanes and tropical storms are likely. Typically, they start in the Atlantic ocean, gradually growing and moving until they reach Caribbean islands and eventually make landfall on the continental US.

When is hurricane season in the US?

The Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1 and lasts until November 30th. These dates are not set in stone, however, and in recent years hurricanes and tropical storms have popped up even earlier than June, some as early as February.

What areas are affected by hurricane season?

The US areas affected by hurricane season are typically the southeast coastline. The ten states most often affected by hurricanes are:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. North Carolina
4. Louisiana
5. South Carolina
6. Alabama
7. Georgia
8. Mississippi
9. New York
10. Massachusetts

Florida has been hit by more than double the amount of hurricanes over second most-affected state, Texas. Whilst Louisiana is fourth on the list, it bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 which was dubbed the costliest hurricane in US history by the National Weather Service.

How much do hurricanes cost?

On average, a hurricane causes around $21.5 billion in damages. Hurricane Katrina the single most costly tropical cyclone in US recorded history, totaling $172.5 billion in damages. Katrina was categorized as a Category 3 storm—not a Category 5 (the strongest)—and still caused the most amount of damage.

While Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane in US history, the most expensive hurricane season was in 2017. There were three hurricanes in less than 30 days, including Hurricane Harvey, the second-costliest storm in history. This season caused a total of $283.6 billion in damages, with three of the five most economically damaging storms in US history.

How to prepare for hurricanes

If you live in a high-risk area such as Florida or Texas, you most likely have some kind of emergency plan for when a hurricane hits. If you don’t, it’s imperative for you and your family to put a well-thought out plan together. This is best done before storm season, that way you aren’t unprepared for when a surprise storm hits.

Make a plan

• Have phone numbers written down in a safe place
• Put together an emergency supply kit that includes candles, flashlights, food, water, and other necessities
• Know where the nearest shelter is and different routes you can take to get there if there is flooding or debris blocking the road

Put together essentials and store them

If you have extra room in your house, garage, or even a closet, put together an emergency supply kit for essentials — in case you get hurt or are trapped in your home or neighborhood. This should include:

• Food and water
• medicine such as anti-inflammatory, vitamins, and antacids to treat digestive pains
• Prescription Medication if you have an ailment
• First aid kid
• Emergency power sources (batteries, flashlights, etc.)
• Important documents

Have your car ready to go

You never know when you may need to evacuate quickly. When a storm is about to hit, prepare your car accordingly:

• Have a full tank of gas
• Move cars into garage
• Keep a separate emergency kit in your car

Make sure you have flood insurance if you are at risk from hurricane damage

Wind damage caused by hurricanes and tropical storms are usually covered by home insurance policies, although it’s always worth checking with your provider. Conversely, Flood damage caused by Hurricanes is not included in most standard insurance policies. Flooding is the major cause of high hurricane costs, making it critical to add flood coverage to your policy. Hurricanes are the costliest natural disaster in the US, causing billions of dollars of damage. Know what your policy covers and add in flooding protection if necessary. Speak to your insurance agent if you aren’t sure what is covered—that way, once the storm passes, you won’t be concerned about how much money in damages you’re facing.

FloodFlash award-winning insurance is coming soon to the US. To find out more and register for updates in your area, visit our US website.

This blog was contributed by David Cruz. For more information email davidcruzwrites@gmail.com.