Hurricane season has arrived and there have already been reports of a hurricane raging in the Pacific. Early Friday, the National Hurricane Center announced that tropical storm Adrian had graduated to a full-fledged hurricane and was heading toward land. It is expected to reach the coasts of Mexico within the next day. On the other side of the country, in the Gulf Coast, concerns are rising as to what disasters this season could bring. Along the Mississippi River, the danger of flooding due to storms is all too real. Storms…
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Virginia homeowners urged to review insurance for items not covered this hurricane season
Virginia state insurance regulators are cautioning homeowners to review their policies as the hurricane season begins. Regulators note that several insurance policies include deductibles for wind damage caused by hurricanes, but many others do not. This disparity leads to lapses in coverage that are prevalent throughout the state. The State Corporation Commission says that even if homes are protected against wind damage, there is still the possibility of water damage. Regulators assert that the majority of hurricane losses stem from flood damage. The majority of property insurance policies available in…
Read MoreAn alarming rate of uninsured residents this hurricane season
The Louisiana Insurance Department is urging everyone in the state to purchase flood insurance as hurricane season begins. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has been expressing the need for flood insurance for several months. With the April storms causing severe flooding along the Mississippi River, more people are aware of the damage high waters can do, but few are taking steps to protect their homes and property. Commissioner Donelon claims that the number of homes with flood insurance has fallen back to pre-Katrina levels – a disturbing report as hurricane season…
Read MoreHurricane season quickly moves in while many still pick up the pieces from the last storm
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a tumultuous hurricane season this year. The forecast, released Thursday, predicts that as many as six major hurricanes could form over the Atlantic Ocean this season. This is unsettling news for many states in the south currently struggling with national disasters of their own. Insurance companies are bracing for yet more damages. Last year’s hurricane season was relatively tame. Winds kept most tropical storms at sea and prohibited them from forming into hurricanes. “However, we can’t count on luck to get us…
Read MoreUninsured schools lie in direct path of flooding
Louisiana’a Morganza Spillway was opened early last week by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to relieve pressure from the swelling Mississippi River. Waters coming through the spillway are expected to cause damage to crops along their way to the Atchafalaya River. However, the amount of water pouring is causing the river to overrun its banks, putting a number of schools in the area at risk of flood damage. Many of the schools are not covered by any form of flood insurance. Risk manager for the Terrebone…
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