While living near the Gulf
Coast provides pleasure from its beauty and recreational value, dealing
with the risk of hurricanes is a tough trade-off. Each year the threat
of a hurricane hitting the coast carries the potential for tremendous
property damage and personal danger. Having insurance to cover that
potential is just part of the equation in dealing with this beautiful
yet dangerous location. Since I am limited in space here, be sure to
visit my web site at www.jiavic.com for some excellent links on
hurricane information and preparation.
The 2000 hurricane season officially began June 1 and officials
predict it will be busy. This season, Bill Gray, a Colorado State
professor noted for his accuracy in hurricane forecasting, predicted
that 11 storms would be menacing enough to be named, seven of them
hurricanes and three of those major.
There is a 34 percent probability of a large storm hitting the U.S.
between the Florida panhandle and Brownsville, Texas this year. So much
for statistics. The numbers get expressed each year and folks tend to
turn a deaf or uncaring ear.
Officials fear, and I agree, that people are too complacent about
storms. Especially where they haven't been seen for dozens of years.
Galveston, Texas was the target of the worst natural disaster in U.S.
history. More than 6,000 people were killed when a hurricane came ashore
in September 1900. Through better storm warnings, the death toll has
been greatly reduced, but property damage, now in the billions of
dollars, continues to climb each year. This is greatly due to the
numbers of people moving to the coastal areas and construction standards
becoming too lax.
Victoria has not been affected by a hurricane since Carla, over 35
years ago. In August of 1999, Hurricane Brett struck Texas below Corpus
Christi where there was very little construction, so the cost and impact
was minimal. Had it hit just 60 miles north in Nueces County, the damage
could have been tremendous.
Hurricanes can dump over 14 inches of rain on our town in under six
hours. This long duration of steady rain can cause flooding damage where
none previously occurred. Few neighborhoods are immune, yet few buy
flood insurance to cover this risk.
Our flooding in October of 1998 was due to rain falling far upstream.
This can occur as well from a hurricane, but more likely the rain will
fall right on top of us. The drainage systems in most neighborhoods will
have difficulty evacuating that much water without it accumulating to
rise up to foundations and flood property. This is why the NFIP says
that between 25% and 30% of all flood insurance claims come from outside
high-risk flood areas.
A newly written flood policy has a 30-day waiting period before it
becomes effective. Call your agent now to place your flood policy. When
you are not in a high-risk flood hazard area, the premiums are very
affordable.
The other risk from hurricanes is high winds. Don't stop with just
boarding up windows if a storm is imminent. Most trees have not had
proper pruning for several years. Many are in need of removing diseased
or dead branches and lightening the load on their overly long, burdened
branches. Debris around the house and old fences are sure to be thrown
against homes as well. Some care in these areas can go a long way toward
reducing the hazard.
Russell Janecka is a Certified Insurance Counselor. He is the owner of Janecka Insurance Agency in Victoria, and serves on the board of directors with Germania Insurance Companies. (361) 573-4475 e-mail: info@jiavic.com
