Hurricane Preparedness in St Augustine

This year El Niño and La Niña could make the hurricane season’s forecast even more volatile than usual. It is important to ensure that you are prepared for every possibility. Even though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook  indicates that a near-normal hurricane season is most likely, it only takes one storm to cause a disaster. Now is the time to take action and ensure you are financially protected before the next flooding event.

Hurricanes have caused eight of the 10 costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. Hurricanes have caused eight of the 10 costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. Although hurricane-force winds cause damage, so do storm surge, heavy rains, and flash floods—even in areas far from the coast. With the increased unpredictability of this hurricane season, it is urgent that you remind your clients that it typically takes 30 days for a flood insurance policy to take effect. Don’t wait until a storm is on the way—it will be too late to secure the proper financial protection for your community.

Key Facts about Hurricane Season

• Heavy Rains. Storms can bring several inches of precipitation in just hours or can stall out over an area for days. These heavy rains can lead to severe flooding by oversaturating the ground, overfilling storm drains, or causing rivers or lakes to spill over their banks or levees. 
• Flash Flooding. A flash flood is the rapid flooding of low-lying areas caused by intense rain or several storms. Flash floods can have devastating effects, leaving downed trees and destroying buildings and bridges.
• Tropical Storms and Hurricanes. Flooding associated with tropical storms and hurricanes isn’t limited to just storm surge on the coast. Heavy rains and flash floods can affect communities hundreds of miles inland.