Hurricane Dorian

Have you ever wondered where hurricanes get their names? I have and after doing some research apparently there is a top secret department at the National Hurricane Service that comes up with them. They are alphabetical so Dorian being the fourth letter was the fourth storm of the season. Most letters get a name but they skip a few letters. I guess there aren’t many good names for U. Sorry Ursula you won’t be named for a hurricane just a giant sea hag! 
It feels like we have been watching hurricane Dorian for a month now! What started as a tropical depression on August 24 and grew into a monster storm before hitting the Bahamas still continues to work its way up the east coast. Currently it is soaking the eastern part of North Carolina. It will be several more days before this storm finally heads out to sea.
The devastation left behind in the Bahamas is unimaginable. With maximum winds reaching a frightening level of 185 miles per hour the hurricane sat for days over the island. The entire island was basically left uninhabitable when the Dorian finally headed north. The basic survival needs like water, food, shelter and sanitary place to bath are now a major challenge for the people living there. The total loss of life won't be known for awhile due to the enormity of the situation. Judging from the photos entire families could have been lost in the storm. Hopefully the help that is beginning to arrive will be able to get people off the island and get basic services restored soon for the ones that decide to stay.
Since this is an insurance blog here are some things to keep in mind. Home insurance for damage done by hurricanes falls into a few different categories. You have your wind damage, you have damage done by driving rain and you have flood damage done by water rushing into the house. Most insurance companies cover wind damage and damage done by wind driven rain. But, most policies don’t cover flood damage. And the flood is what tends to cause most of the destruction.  If you look at all those blank concrete slabs in the Bahamas you can see the damage flood and waves can cause to a home.
If you are in an area where you can get hit by a Hurricane you should definitely consider buying flood insurance. It seems like these storms are increasingly rain events and like in Houston a few years ago the floods can be the most devastating part of the storm. Between rivers overflowing, lakes exceeding their banks, ocean tides rising well beyond normal. Flood insurance is an important policy to consider when covering your home. Out here in sunny southern California it may not be as necessary but earthquake insurance is definitely something to consider.  Oddly, I sell more earthquake insurance when hurricanes hit than I do after small earthquakes. A good insurance agent can run a flood quote for you. They can also sometimes provide a flood map. The flood map will show how your home is situated in relation to rivers, lakes and tides. The higher the risk the more you will pay for insurance. But, if you are in a low risk area the cost is pretty affordable. If a hurricane the size of Dorian was to stall over an area even the low risk zones would sustain major damages.  Talk to a professional insurance agent and get the details. If you are in California give me a call and I can discuss your options. 951-395-0754