(Washington, DC) ‒ SmarterSafer.org today released a statement urging Congress to pass long-term, common-sense NFIP reform at the end of the 2011 Hurricane Season: “The 2011 hurricane season has come to an end, yet there are those who are still struggling from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Communities across the United States have seen firsthand the need for a National Flood Insurance Program that protects lives and property while saving taxpayer dollars. The U.S. Congress has had several opportunities to pass permanent NFIP reform that has support in both the…
Read MoreTag: 2011 hurricane season
Floridians call for insurance reform to mitigate growing concerns of natural disasters
South Floridians were benefited with leniency earlier in the month when Tropical Storm Emily was weakened by its bout in the Caribbean. Only four months remain in hurricane season – one that was forecasted as being highly active – and no significant storms have yet reached the state. Despite the seemingly benign activity in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, insurers are warning residents of Florida to not be caught off guard, as a powerful storm can make landfall at any time. Spurred by this advice, and the recent disasters…
Read MoreNOAA updates hurricane season forecast, still calls for an active season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has updated their forecast of this year’s hurricane season. The original outlook was issued in May in which the agency noted that the current season would be more active than usual. Several major storms have already formed in the Atlantic Ocean, with some making landfall in Florida and Texas. None have cause any major damage, thus far, but that may change during this month as NOAA predicts as many as five category 3 hurricanes to form offshore. According to Gerry Bell, Ph.D., the…
Read MoreFlood insurance companies prepare for a potentially disastrous summer
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service announced last week that this summer’s flooding season may be the worst on record. Both the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers are currently overrunning their banks, inundating much of their surrounding areas with water. There are also several other, smaller rivers , that are also flowing over as well. Some have served as emergency spillovers for larger rivers, but none have been able to stem the flow of the water. Much of the flooding is due to storms far to the north,…
Read MoreMexico takes out disaster insurance for over $400 million
On Friday, June 10, 2011, Mexico announced that it had purchased various forms of disaster insurance for more than $400, in order to gain some protection in the areas that face the greatest risk of natural disasters such as hurricanes. According to the Mexican finance ministry, the $404 million (4.8 billion pesos) of disaster insurance was purchased to “protect public infrastructure and homes in vulnerable areas.” This decision came after last year where there were a staggering 19 major storms that struck Central America, leaving behind damage worth several hundreds…
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