HURRICANE SEASON 2007 – ARE YOU PREPARED?

by Tara Pingle

The 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season is now upon us. And for those of us in the Southeast Region of the United States, it is a time when we begin to think – how bad is it going to be this season? Although 2006 was a relatively calm year with only 2 named storms hitting the U.S., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is projecting a much more active Atlantic Hurricane Season for 2007. Based on the current oceanic surface temperatures, the scientists are predicting between 13 and 17 named storms, 7 to 10 of which will become hurricanes, and of those 7 to 10, 3 to 5 could be major hurricanes, a Category 3 or higher.If the predictions are true, we only have to look back to 2005 to realize what we may have to look forward to here in Florida. We had widespread evacuations. Many of us experienced days, even weeks without electricity. There was property damage and destruction everywhere. If it happens again, are you prepared? If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to get your family ready in case a disaster strikes. Waiting for the first hurricane watch is too late. The Florida Division of Emergency Management website has an excellent online Family Disaster Planning tool which can be found at -http://www.floridadisaster.org/familyWith it, you can create a personalized Family Plan, which will include:·Amount of food and water needed for your family and pets·Evacuation maps·Local emergency contact informationThe system creates checklists of recommended items and specific quantities of water based on your size family. It also emphasizes the importance of keeping copies of important documents such as insurance papers, birth certificates, and bank account numbers in a dry, plastic container for easy retrieval.But what if disaster does strike your family home; will your insurance company respond appropriately, timely and treat you fairly? The 2005 hurricane season found many homeowners fighting with their adjuster to replace roofs, repair water damage and settle claims. Some homeowners are still fighting their insurance company and for some it has been two years since the damage occurred. If you are one of those homeowners who still has a blue tarp on your roof, water stains on your ceiling or mold in the walls, the attorneys at Wooten, Honeywell, Kimbrough, Gibson, Doherty and Normand, P.A. can help you. Our attorneys have helped homeowners settle their claims by determining the proper deductible, researching the policy to what should have been covered and fighting for the full amount of coverage due to the homeowner. We have litigated insurance disputes and denials against all the major homeowners insurance companies including Allstate, State Farm, USAA and Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

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