Let us begin with a few words of caution about the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Know your flood risk to prevent uninsured losses, minimize unwarranted expenses, and protect the value of your property. Experts predict a 2019 season, June 1 through November 30, of “near-normal” activity: […]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) announced Risk Rating 2.0, a new effort designed to improve how the NFIP determines flood risk and flood insurance premiums. It purports to leverage industry best practices and technology; however, by most accounts, Risk Rating 2.0 will increase premiums and decrease […]
The countdown is on, yet again, for NFIP Reauthorization, the renewal of the National Flood Insurance Program set to expire May 31, 2019. Both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate must pass legislation to continue the federal program and will consider changes, improvements, short-term or long-term renewal. Last month’s U.S. House Committee on […]
June 1 marks the official start of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season. There are predictions of a slightly above-average and slightly below-average season, a forecast of up to 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes; and the reality: plan for the worst, hope for the best. This spring, the hurricane forecasting team from […]
June 1 marks the official start of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the forecast calls for up to 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. The season also includes the debut of Irma to the list of named storms and the retirement of Irene. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s […]
Flood risk awareness is more than an observation. It is a proactive strategy to protect and increase the value of your property. Mother Nature’s flooding fury was not particularly kind last year. In fact, 2016’s flood events clinched an unwelcome place in the history books as detailed by USA TODAY in the story: U.S. Had […]
The month of August is not particularly kind to the state of Louisiana. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina and a failed levee left a trail of devastation. Eleven years later, this month, a no-name storm delivered an unrelenting rainfall resulting in flash flood emergencies, an overtopped levee, and widespread flooding throughout southern Louisiana. The Red Cross […]
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires an elevation certificate to certify the elevation and other characteristics of a building to determine an actuarially sound flood insurance rate. Errors or omissions lead insurance agents to misrate flood insurance policies, resulting in liability for the surveyor, insurance agent, and most importantly, property owner. Because of elevation […]
The 2016 hurricane season officially starts June 1, and the forecast calls for 12 named storms, five hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. If the spring storms that crippled the Houston (TX) region are any indication of Mother Nature’s volatility, we can only hope for the best and plan for the worst. Now is the time […]
Last month in Houston, TX, torrential rains dumped more than 15 inches in some areas. The following screen capture illustrates the fury of flood warnings in the region on April 18. The severe weather resulted in massive flooding, impassable roads, citizen evacuations, closed schools and crippled businesses. According to local reports, April’s relentless downpour will […]