While the last few hurricane seasons have been relatively quiet, weather forecasting professionals have indicated that the trend is not expected to continue. AccuWeather has predicted that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be fiercer than last year, with 20 to 25 named storms predicted. This is partly due to the expected return of La Ni\u00f1a conditions to the Pacific Ocean, which will reduce the amount of vertical wind shear in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to prime hurricane conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this reason, meteorologists are warning Americans that now is the time to prepare before the storms begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Atlantic hurricane season began on the first of June. Still, weather professionals from AccuWeather have expressed concern for months, warning that the 2024 season could go into the record books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to feature well above the historical average number of tropical storms, hurricanes, major hurricanes, and direct U.S. impacts,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no question that hurricanes are expensive for everyone: homeowners, insurance companies<\/a>, states, cities, and the federal government.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s Office for Coastal Management, tropical cyclones (or hurricanes) have caused the most damage of all weather events in the United States since 1980: over $1.3 trillion total, with an average cost of $22.8 billion per event. Hurricanes are also responsible for the highest number of deaths: 6,890 since 1980. (Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane on record, causing $65 billion in insured losses in 2005, and one of the deadliest, resulting in the loss of 1,390 lives.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a report<\/a> published by CoreLogic, approximately 32.7 million homes in the United States are at risk of moderate to severe hurricane damage ahead of the active hurricane season, which translates to a combined reconstruction cost of $10.8 trillion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInsurance remains one of the most important tools for a resilient society, given the role it plays in recovery. Being able to quantify risk helps insurance companies make informed risk decisions, which is critical in the evolving hurricane landscape,\u201d said Maiclaire Bolton Smith, CoreLogic\u2019s vice president, hazard and risk management. \u201cWith the potential for an active hurricane season on the horizon, insurers and homeowners should do everything they can to prepare and mitigate as much risk as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important that homeowners properly evaluate the risk of a major hurricane in advance and prepare accordingly, and this means properly evaluating property insurance coverage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Homeowners\u2019 insurance covers damage to your home and other buildings on your property, including detached garages. Homeowners should also consider the additional coverage a homeowners\u2019 policy can provide, such as personal liability and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPreparing for Hurricane Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n