Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st, the hurricane activity peaks from mid-August through mid-October – a period commonly referred to as a “season within the season”, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Weather experts view this time of the year as the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity, accounting for 78 percent of the tropical storm days, 87 percent of the category 1 and 2 hurricane days, and 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.
Just two weeks ago a slow-moving area of low pressure and near-record amounts of atmospheric moisture led to extreme rainfall and historic flooding in southeast Louisiana.
Last night, Tropical Depression Nine, the area previously called Invest 99L, developed just south of Florida and moves near the Florida Keys, western Cuba and southern Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. While it currently remains poorly organized, meteorologists predict that the system could become a tropical storm as it turns northward then northeastward over the Gulf of Mexico this week, and could cause heavy rain and localized flash flooding.
Despite the level of weather activity as we move into the peak of the hurricane season, we encourage you to stay alert and make all necessary preparations in an attempt to minimize the impact of possible flooding on your business:
• Monitor your surroundings and NOAA weather alerts;
• Review your disaster response and recovery plan with your staff and/or family members;
• Ensure that important document files are backed up away from your property so they aren’t lost if electronics and paper files are destroyed by water;
• Take all necessary steps to prevent the release of dangerous chemicals that may be stored on the property;
• Contact your property insurance agent.
It only takes one storm to make it a bad year for your business. Our flood team has substantial expertise assessing, insuring, and mitigating flood risk. Contact us to learn how we may be able to improve how you insure your client’s flood risk.
