Bracing for an Active Hurricane Season

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By now, you’ve read the various forecasts predicting a very active, even “explosive,” upcoming hurricane season (June 1 to November 30). Anywhere between 23 and 30 named storms are forecasted, with up to seven hurricanes predicted to have a significant impact on the Atlantic and the Gulf. The active season is based on the exceptionally warm Atlantic and the expected shift from El Niño to La Niña.

According to Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University (CSU), there is a 62% probability of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline. The 2024 hurricane season outlook, according to CSU, is demonstrating characteristics similar to other active years, like 1998, 2010, and 2020, which produced a record-breaking 30 named storms, of which six turned into major hurricanes.1

Keeping People Safe, Minimizing Potential Property Damage and Loss: Get Clients Ready

If you haven’t done so already, send your clients a bulletin (via email) on hurricane preparedness to help mitigate potential losses. Homeowners and commercial property owners should be reminded of the measures to take before the hurricane season begins.

Here are several measures, courtesy of the Red Cross, you can include in your communications with clients.

Homeowners

  • Prepare for Wind:
    • Secure items outside, such as lawn furniture and trash cans that could be picked up by high winds and hurt someone.
    • Anchor objects, such as gas grills and propane tanks.
    • Trim or remove trees close enough to fall on your home.
    • Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or pre-cut plywood.
    • Review insurance policies.
  • Prepare for Flooding:
    • Clean out drains, gutters, and downspouts.
    • Stockpile protective materials such as plastic sheeting and sandbags.
    • Consider installing a sump pump with battery backup.
    • Consider elevating the heating system, water heater, and electric panel.
  • Plan for Evacuation
    • Know ahead of time where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay.
    • Plan well in advance if you need help leaving your home or using public transportation.
    • Have a to-go emergency kit ready. The kit should include water, non-perishable food, flashlight, first-aid, medications, personal hygiene items, copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies), family and emergency contact information, extra cash, and an emergency blanket.
  • Plan for Shelter Safety
    • Practice going to a designated safe shelter for high winds. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not likely to flood.
    • If you are in a flood location, designate an area on higher ground that you can move to before floodwaters reach you.
  • Stay Connected
    • Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
    • Make sure you can charge your cell phone.
    • Have a battery-powered radio.

Commercial Property Owners

  • Perform a Preparedness Assessment
    • With so many people working remotely, ensure you have up-to-date contact information on your staff.
    • Use emergency systems to send employees notifications.
    • Address how you will account for business interruptions and continuity, including communicating with vendors during an emergency.
  • Review Location and Assets
    • Consider relocating physical assets to a separate, more secure location before the oncoming storm.
    • Back up your data at a remote site and in the cloud to ensure multiple layers of redundancy.
    • Review your Property and Flood insurance policies and determine what, if any, requirements your insurance company has in place concerning documentation.
  • Develop an Emergency Plan for Business Continuity
    • Monitor weather reports to track the storm’s severity so you know what you need to do to prepare for possible structural damage and emergency evacuation.
    • Form an emergency response team that has clear reporting lines and predetermined duties.
    • Write and disseminate your response plan. This may include closing the office or storefront, turning on backup generators, coordinating recovery efforts with local officials or Red Cross responders, or providing employees with a suggested evacuation route and/or emergency shelter location.
    • Secure the facility and your people. Board up windows and doors and any openings to your office or storefront. Ensure you have a backup power system to keep all critical security assets working, including cameras, fire, and burglar alarms. Inside your space, consider moving all important documents, furniture, and IT equipment away from windows or even relocating them to a safe location. Keep employees safe and communicate with them at all times as the hurricane heads for land. Reach out to all of your people and perform a post-storm status check.

You can obtain a more detailed hurricane preparedness toolkit for businesses from Ready.gov.

1Governing, CSU