Florida is a place for those who enjoy the sun and a tropical-coastal climate. Its sceneries and beaches and bright and beautiful summer, attract tourists from all places giving it the name Sunshine state. But given that, this state also experiences a huge array of hurricanes.
Florida experiences hurricane season from mid-May with August and September being the most active months. The impact is so high that out of the 301 hurricanes that have hit the U.S. 120 have hit Florida twice as hard compared to Texas, the second most prone area for hurricanes. The hurricane season Florida can be brutal when it hits the coastal regions while the inland resident isn’t likely to face any major concerns.
Even though the effect of hurricanes is varied throughout the state, everyone is better equipped if they have the right information to protect themselves from it. So, let’s dive into some important facts to know about the hurricane season Florida to face it better.
Months When Hurricane Season in Florida
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Hurricane season Florida starts on June 1 and ends on November 30. The months of August through October will face the most intense hurricanes with September 10 being the peak of its activity.
Giving the citizens a fair warning, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal activity for hurricanes hitting Florida 60% of the time. This means the state would be hit by a greater frequency of storms, higher than the century average. With 2021 experiencing the third most active hurricane in history, what is to say of the intensity when hurricane season in Florida hits n 2022?
This collectively calls for the proper preparation needed to face the storm. This would include important facts to keep in mind for hurricanes, what to do to be safe during when hurricane season in Florida, and how to handle everything after its passing.
The Most Hurricane-Prone Area(s) in Florida
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Compared to the inland regions of Florida, the coastal area is hit badly during hurricane season Florida. Monroe County situated in the southwestern tip of Florida experiences the most hurricanes. Miami-Dade and Broward’s counties follow this, situated towards the east of the state.
When Hurricane Irma hit Miami in 2017, the county area was submerged in four to six feet of water.
5 Hurricane Risk Factors to Watch Out For
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Hurricanes can come with a surge of natural calamities with it. According to NOAA, this includes five risk factors to expect during the Hurrican season. These include:
- Storm Surge
- Inland Flooding
- Tornadoes
- Rip Currents
- High Winds
Identifying and knowing what affects your region the most can help you tackle it with ease by preparing for it. Additionally, the NOAA has also published a detailed Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters report which explains the statistics on hurricanes. This explains the greatest risk to each area, giving a proper hurricane risk analysis for the state. The report includes Disaster, and risk mapping, time series, climatology, etc which can be helpful to know the storms come rolling.
Preparing for when Hurricane Season in Florida Hits
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Knowing what to do from before the storm hits to after can be helpful and life-saving. Let us look at things you can do for preparing.
Before the Storm
Read up on the information regarding the hurricane situation in your region. This can help you start preparation before anything major happens. Have a plan ready to help you and your family during this time. Emergency kits with the necessities like First Aid and safety equipment if any can be prepared to be used when needed.
Use waterproof storage of use [lastic files to store important documents. For safety store their soft copies in a drive that can be accessed from any computer. You can remain updated regularly by signing up for community emergency storm alerts.
Take precautions at an early stage itself by making sure that your house is on the lower scale of having flood risk. If needed purchase additional flood insurance as homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
When and if things get intense staying in is not going to help even with all the precautions. Plan an easy and clear exit route from your house, leading to a safe and successful evacuation.
During the Storm
During the hurricane season Florida, happening in your region, make sure to use the tactics you installed before for any issues. Always keep being updated by the weather alerts to know the intensity of the situation as well.
If you have areas that are majorly affected by the storm, stay clear and safe in the unaffected ones. If the condition worsens, reach out for disaster assistance or take the exit route as you had planned. Once you exit the locale try finding a shelter that can hold you through till the storm passes. You can also visit the website of Florida 511 to have updated information on the condition of roads during tropical storm Florida.
After the Storm
Once the tropical storm Florida has cleared out it will e safe to come out of the house or the temporary shelter you have chosen. This can be done once you hear the local officials inform you when it is time to come out. This will be tagged with other special instructions that you require to listen to carefully.
Once you get back home, use proper protective clothing like gloves and face coverings to remove debris and moulds. Later on, you can file a claim with the coastal home insurance or the flood insurance provider for the wind or water damage that affected your home. This can be further supported with photos and videos that document the damage the tropical storm Florida has caused your home.
Common Types of Hurricane Damage to know
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When hurricane season in Florida passes, knowing how much of what type of damage has happened to your property will help you figure out the extensive repairs it needs.
If we take wind as an example, the average wind speed you can expect ranges from 100 mph to 150 mph. Anything greater than that which exceeds a speed of 200 mph can be a sign of stronger winds. In case your home was in the path of one such column of air, it is more likely that your home is affected by wind damage. This can means damage to the structure like the roof or siding.
Hurricanes can come with rain due to the storm that accompanies them. The intensity of the rain can cause severe damage to the interior and the exterior of your house especially if it floods. Due to the intensity of the floods, there has been set a price tag of about $4.7 billion per event. Severe storms like hurricanes can have an average cost of $2.3 billion per event which is the most common disaster to hit Florida.
Also Read: 20+ Hottest Places on Earth from Death Valley to Morocco
Insurance Considerations for Hurricane Season in Florida
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If you live in a disaster-prone region, be it any corner of the world, damages incurred to it are major. Covering the same with your own money will be hard and thus you must have insurance for your belongings and house to help your rebuild it after.
The same can be said for the hurricane season Florida. You would be required to get additional insurance for your home apart from the home insurance to cover the damages the hurricane has caused. Here are a few steps to follow to ensure you have proper insurance and backups once the tropical storm Florida passes.
Pay for a Hurricane Deductible
Insurers require you to pay a separate deductible when a claim is filed for hurricane damage. This is true in most Atlantic coast states, which Florida is a part of, and are triggered once alerts are going on for hurricanes. Compared to the standard deductibles you file, hurricane deductibles are based on a percentage amount. In Florida, insurers give you options from 2%, 5%, or 10% deductibles.
For understanding, this deeper, let us consider that your home is insured for $700,000 and you have a 10% deductible. When hurricane season in Florida affects your home and you need funds, $70,000 will be deducted from a total of $700,000 and you will be given $630,000 to repair your house.
Purchase Windstorm Insurance
You will need to purchase separate windstorm insurance in case your homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover wind and hail damages. There might be cases where you could be unqualified for applying the same. You can check out Florida FAIR Plan for this.
Purchase Flood Insurance
So far it is safely established that homeowners’ policy doesn’t cover flood damage. They should although look into including it considering how intense and frequent hurricane season Florida hits. As a result, you will need separate flood and hurricane insurance to help you cover the damages till then.
People living in Florida, especially in the high-risk zones need this, as soon as they decide to have a house there. To help you in getting this and plan before the next disaster, you can look at the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Being prepared and knowing what is coming is the only way you can be safe. So read up and be updated on what is happening in your region to be alert when hurricane season Florida hits. Thinking out a long-term plan based on the same can save you a lot of distress, time, and money. So plan accordingly and be safe.
Also Read: 30 World’s Best Places to Visit in 2023
FAQs
1. Which Month Is the Most Prone to Hurricanes in Florida?
Officially, the hurricane season starts on June 1st. Given that it is observed that mid to late May has experienced cyclones over the past several years.
2. Where Can I Find Proper Information N Hurricanes in Florida?
NOAA has a website that has all the information you’ll need to be informed about hurricanes in Florida. There are analyses also uploaded to help you plan your way through one as well.
3. What Are Resources That Can Be Affected or Run Out During a Hurricane?
Resources you commonly have like gas, cell phones, air conditioners, etc can stop working once the intensity of the hurricane hits you. Access to food and water can also be an issue if you find yourself stuck in a certain location.
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