FAIA Speakers' Bureau

FAIA Speakers' Bureau

Hurricane Preparedness Speech

Include four handouts for distribution at your presentation:

1. List of miscellaneous "Hurricane Kit" supplies

2. Grocery List

3. Hardware List

4. Medical Supplies List

5. FEMA's "Avoiding Hurricane Damage" Checklist for Homeowners

Good Afternoon. I'm very pleased to be here with you today; thank you for inviting me. It's a proven fact that certain words in the English language evoke fear. Words like shark, cancer, Internal Revenue Service.

These words have universal connotations that generate fear of the forces beyond our control. Depending on the area of the country in which you live, words like earthquake, flood and tornado may strike a chord. In Florida, the word hurricane immediately sends up warning signals for those of us who have lived through the likes of Andrew. These seasonal visitors are Florida's greatest natural enemy. And the threat to property, peoples' safety and the state's economy cannot be overstated.

Hurricane tracking is a big business and the wealth of information available on the Internet makes it easier than ever before to stay abreast of tropical developments. While the Weather Channel provides periodic updates of weather disturbances, visiting web sites developed by FEMA, NOAA and the Florida Division of Emergency Management can you give you the latest forecast and satellite images. I would also invite you to visit the FAIA Web Site, where timely information on disasters is posted regularly.

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1st through November 30th in the North Atlantic basin (which includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico). During the most active period between August and November, we are likely to see an average of 15 named storms. Each year, we can expect about eight tropical storms with maximum sustained winds between 39-73 miles per hour. A normal season will bring about five category one or two hurricanes with winds at least 74 miles per hour, but not above 110 miles per hour. An average of two major hurricanes with maximum sustained winds exceeding 110 miles per hour develop in the AtlanticBasin annually.

There is always a lot of talk among meteorologists about the various "categories" of hurricanes. While talk of "categories" might sound confusing, it's important to pay attention to each storm's growth because as you ADD wind speed, you MULTIPLY potential damages. To put this in perspective, consider the category one hurricane with winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour which cause damage primarily to shrubbery, trees, foliage, and mobile homes.

Step up to a category two hurricane sustaining winds of 96 to 110 miles per hour, resulting in major damage to exposed mobile homes, damage to roofs windows and doors. Categories one and two are considered "minimal impact" hurricanes.

When winds reach 111 to 130 miles per hour, you have the likes of Hurricane Opal in `95 or Elena in `85, both category three hurricanes. When these storms made landfall in northwest Florida, many mobile homes were destroyed and coastal residences and roads sustained serious damage.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, especially for the mobile home owner, enter Hurricane Andrew, a category four with winds exceeding 131 miles per hour. Memories of the `92 storm are fresh enough to recall that entire streets in Homestead were leveled. Damages were in the range of 26.5 BILLION dollars. If you resided in a mobile home before Andrew swept ashore, you were probably checking out new living quarters afterward. All this from a category four!

In 1935, before hurricanes received names, a category five hurricane made landfall in the Florida Keys, claiming 408 lives. When winds are greater than 155 miles per hour, small buildings can be overturned or completely blown away!

Considering all this, I still feel it's safer to live in Florida than Kansas or California. While tornadoes and earthquakes sometimes strike with little or no warning, hurricanes take time to develop and grow. By following weather reports, Floridians often have days, sometimes a week, to brace for the onset of hurricanes. During these precious days and hours, there is much that can be done to mitigate potential threats to your families, homes and businesses.

How well are you prepared when high winds and storm surges barrel toward Florida's coast? Have you planned your personal hurricane strategy? Look around your home and business and begin by developing an evacuation and relocation plan. Consider any special needs your family might have and alert the police or fire department ahead of time if there are elderly or infirm Floridians who might require evacuation assistance.

Remember, too, that evacuating may take a great deal of time if a major storm is approaching and many coastal residents are heading inland. The approach of Hurricane Floyd resulted in the largest evacuation ever. Interstates were at a standstill. Evacuees in campers and sports utility vehicles camped out at rest areas. Even smaller roads were packed with people seeking safety. Be sure you consider several alternate routes inland when planning your evacuation strategy. When you reach a safe, inland destination, fill your car's gas tank. Flooding and wind damage may force gas stations to suspend operations after a hurricane.

To protect your personal property, learn beforehand how to shut off gas, electricity and water and how to board up vulnerable areas such as doors and windows. I have passed out to you a "Homeowners' Checklist" prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It will help you evaluate how prepared your home is for the onset of a hurricane.

For insurance purposes, it's wise to prepare an inventory list of personal valuables, household furnishings and equipment so losses can be authoritatively itemized. Photographs of property both before and after a disaster strikes may come in handy when reporting losses.

Even before hurricane season starts, it's a good idea to review your insurance policies to see if coverages are current with rising construction costs. Make sure there is enough coverage for furnishings and other items purchased since the policy was first issued. Touch bases with your insurance agent if you have any questions. I'm always glad when clients call to ask about their policies before a hurricane is in the picture. As you may know, once a storm comes within a certain proximity of an area, the JUA, Windstorm Underwriters and other insurance carriers will not issue new policies to residents in that area.

Before a hurricane approaches, gather important documents like contracts, household inventory, car titles, deeds, leases, and tax information. Place these in a safe deposit box or other safe, dry place. Likewise, keep your insurance policies in a safe place where they can be easily retrieved after a disaster. It will help expedite your claims process if you make a quick-reference list containing the names of your insurance companies, the name and phone number of your insurance agent and your policy numbers.

Put together a "Hurricane Kit" containing supplies you are likely to need during and after a storm passes through your area. I have handed out four checklists of standard supplies necessary to include when preparing for hurricane season. The first list has miscellaneous items like flashlights, batteries, radios and the like. There are also lists of groceries, hardware and medical supplies. Please take these lists home with you, review them and use them to organize supplies well in advance of approaching storms.

If you have lived in Florida long enough, you know better than to wait until the last minute to shop for groceries. Purchase in advance enough nonperishable foods to sustain your family for two weeks. Store at least a week's worth of water — two quarts to one gallon per person, per day.

When the storm is still days away, fill your refrigerator and freezer. Food will stay cold longer when the power goes out if the fridge is well stocked. Fill extra ice cube trays or plastic jugs and freeze them. When the storm is imminent, make sure coolers are packed with ice.

As we saw with the approach of Hurricane Floyd, stores like Lowes and Home Depot can be crowded with last-minute shoppers seeking dwindling supplies of hardware for home protection and repairs.

Waiting out the storm can be the hardest part. While it may be tempting to resume normal activity as winds and rain die down, be cautious. You could be in the eye of the storm, with more threatening weather on the way. Don't go out of your home or leave a shelter until emergency officials say it is safe. Even if power is out, you can always monitor local news stations on a portable radio for official word.

Roads may be blocked by debris, so check with officials to learn which roads are passable. Driving is likely to be extremely treacherous. After Andrew, every intersection was without traffic lights, and every street was littered with debris and downed power lines. Even though Floyd failed to make landfall in Florida, accompanying winds were strong enough to topple power lines as far inland as Orlando. Be careful to avoid contact with power lines; assume they are live and watch where you step.

If your neighborhood floods during a storm, listen to the radio for instructions. Rising water may require you to evacuate after the storm has passed. If a storm spawns tornadoes, the area will be covered with broken glass, pieces of housing materials and other debris. Parts of buildings, trees and bridges may be weakened and could collapse. And there's added danger from water on roadways which could conceal dangerous debris or contain sewage from flooded or broken septic tanks.

As you reenter stricken areas, don your safari hat and prepare to make contact with the animal kingdom. Insects, snakes and other animals are driven from their natural habitats by rising waters. In Florida, evacuated families may return home to find an unexpected gator or two at the dinner table. Be careful letting pets outdoors; with familiar landmarks and scents gone, they might get lost.

When you return to your home after a hurricane, the first thing to do is open all doors and windows so noxious smells and gases can escape. Check for gas leaks and refrain from smoking indoors until everything has dried. If your home is open to the elements or you fear it will collapse, don't stay in it! Secure it as best you can, get as many of your valuables out as possible, and find another place to stay.

Leave a telephone number where you can be reached; spray-paint it on a piece of wood along with your exact address and the names of your insurance companies for adjusters cruising neighborhoods. Don't post policy numbers; that's an invitation for con artists to pose as you and get your money.

The danger from electrical hazards cannot be overstated. Don't use electrical appliances until they are dry. If water remains in your house, try to rent or borrow a pump or bail by hand.

Many deaths are linked to accidents after storms. If you are using power tools, chain saws, generators or other power equipment, use common sense

and follow basic safety rules. Clean your pool, and lower it to its proper level. When you put up television antennas again, watch for power lines.

Check your fuel and electrical systems for damage. If the storm has deposited salt on cars, boats and other exterior items and uncontaminated water is available, rinse the salt off.

Once you have had a chance to view any damages yourself, that's when your independent insurance agent can offer assistance. Expediting claims and seeing that the needs of our friends and neighbors are met after a brush with disaster are our number one priority.

After damages are assessed and claims are filed, however, the real impact of the storm is still being realized by its victims in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder. The most common symptoms of stress include anger, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeplessness and nightmares, depression, headaches and a lack of concentration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says stressful feelings after a major disaster are normal. There are steps folks can take to feel better and acknowledging stress is the first step toward feeling better.

Talk about your feelings with family, friends and neighbors. Sharing common experiences helps individuals overcome feelings of anxiety and helplessness. It may be difficult, but try to get back into daily routines as soon as possible. Maintaining good eating and sleeping habits is also important. Physical exercise helps reduce stress, even if it's only going for a daily walk.

Realize that not everyone reacts to stress in the same way or heals at the same pace. Mental health experts say that disaster-related stress may surface days or even months following the event, and can affect children as well as adults.

To help people cope, crisis counselors are often on hand at disaster recovery centers. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other voluntary agencies provide crisis counseling services.

When you gauge Florida's ability to cope with the forces of nature, you must consider the ever-expanding technology at our fingertips. The new state EmergencyOperationsCenter in Tallahassee is a hub of activity before, during and after a storm. Computers calculate landfall, satellite images cover the "big screen" walls, and hundreds of state workers and volunteers man posts to provide information and assistance to Floridians in distress. Decisions about evacuations, road closures and declarations of emergency are made in concert with the team at EOC.

I am pleased that the Florida Association of Insurance Agents participates at the EOC as a crisis volunteer in the "Partners for Recovery" program. Information, claims assistance and other services are coordinated by member agents like myself under the leadership of catastrophe zone coordinators. It is our goal to see that you return to your homes safely, file claims expeditiously and receive compensation for your losses as quickly as possible.

At this time, I would like to open the floor for any questions you may have.