Floridians Need to Prepare for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is officially starting on June 1, less than a month away. Buying flood insurance is a good alternative to get ready.
One thing every Floridian can do to be well-prepared for hurricane season is to purchase flood insurance. Even if a family does not live in a flood zone, anywhere there is rain, there is a chance of flooding. Experts predict that tropical and subtropical storms can form as early as June, well before the season’s September peak. Even though this coming season might not be as strong as last year’s Hurricane Irma, storms can still cause damage to homes and infrastructure.
Many communities across Florida learned the lessons from Hurricane Irma the hard way. Irma hit Florida as a Category 4 storm the morning of Sept. 10, 2017, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, ripping off roofs, flooding coastal cities, and knocking out power to more than 6.8 million people.
Nearly a million property owners filed claims for various insured losses from Hurricane Irma, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, with estimated insured losses totaling nearly $8 billion. However, many homeowners, renters and businesses could not file flood-related claims as most policies do not cover flood damage.
“Home insurance policies can be strengthened so the coverage includes, for an additional cost, flooding and other types of water damage,” said Verbert Anderson, President at JV Insurance Agency, a Miami-based agency with 45 years of experience. Property owners who already have flood insurance policies are encouraged to check their policy each year, update as necessary and make sure premiums remain paid in full.
“Home insurance ranges from as low as $1,200 a year and not only covers weather-related water or wind damage, but also other aspects that could happen occasionally to a homeowner, as a kitchen fire or a burst pipe. It also might provide third-party liability coverage; for instance, a tree that falls onto a neighbor’s property. The important point to consider here is that you get completely covered all the time, so you can sleep peacefully,” added Anderson.
JV Insurance Agency also advises Floridians to get insured before the start of the storm season as rates will most likely increase after June. According to a report from Willis Towers Watson P.L.C., North American homeowners’ insurance rates could rise by as much as 25% during 2018, largely due to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which together triggered one of the most destructive hurricane seasons in history.
For more information call 305.253.7555 or visit the website www.southdadeinsurance.com
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