The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released its 2017 Hurricane Season FEMA After-Action Report, highlighting key statistics and lessons learned from the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the report, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria combined to create the costliest hurricane season on record, with homeowners, businesses and government agencies losing an estimated $265 billion as a direct result of these storms.
Experts Revise 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast
Although experts warned that the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season would also be “more active than usual,” recent changes in atmospheric conditions have caused the forecast to be revised. As reported by the Palm Beach Post, “[c]hances that the global climate pattern El Niño will develop this fall were increased in the most recent forecast, boosting confidence in revised predictions for a below-normal hurricane season.”
As also reported by the Palm Beach Post, experts are currently predicting:
- 11 named storms (down from 14 named storms in the original forecast)
- Four hurricanes (down from six hurricanes)
- One major hurricane of Category 3 or higher (down from two major hurricanes)
These revisions are good news for South Florida homeowners and business owners, many of whom are still struggling to recover from last year’s devastating storms. However, while the chances of another direct hit may be relatively low (according to the current forecast), it is still advisable for local residents to be prepared.
How South Florida Residents Can Prepare for the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Preparing for hurricane season means ensuring that your home and your family are ready (or, at least, as ready as possible) to weather any storms that may come through, and making sure you know what to do if you need to file a storm damage claim with your homeowner’s insurance company. Here are some tips from our Fort Lauderdale property damage attorneys:
1. Make Sure You Have Adequate Insurance Coverage
Do you know what your flood insurance policy covers? Is your homeowner’s insurance policy up to date? Standard homeowner’s policies do not cover all types of hurricane-related storm damage, so you will want to make sure you have adequate coverage in place.
2. Learn How to Protect Your Rights Under Your Policy
Increasingly, insurance companies are using Managed Repair Programs as a way to tout new “benefits” that they offer to their policy holders. In reality, however, these programs most often benefit the insurance companies. You do not have to use your insurance company’s Managed Repair Program, and it may not be in your best interests to do so.
Learn more about protecting your rights under your flood and homeowner’s insurance policies:
- Filing a Homeowner’s Insurance Claim During the 2018 Hurricane Season
- Creating an Inventory of Lost Property After a Storm or Theft
- What Do Homeowners Need to Know About Making Temporary Repairs?
3. Be Wary of Fraudulent Scams
Finally, FEMA has recently warned of an uptick in fraudulent scams targeting homeowners after major storms. As a homeowner in South Florida, it is important to know how to spot the warning signs of fraud.
Experienced Property Damage Attorneys in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The property damage attorneys at Saavedra | Goodwin provide experienced legal representation for homeowners and business owners in South Florida. If you need help dealing with your insurance company, we encourage you to call (954) 928-9568 or contact us online for a confidential consultation.
