Insurance Hurricane Box Map Guide for Homeowners and Families

Having a hurricane box map can be a lifesaver for homeowners and families. A hurricane box map is a visual guide that helps you quickly identify essential areas of your home and the routes to take in case of an evacuation.

The map should be clearly labeled with the location of emergency supplies, such as food, water, and first aid kits. This will help you locate what you need in a hurry.

In a typical hurricane box map, the most important areas of the home are marked, including bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen. This is crucial for planning a safe evacuation route.

A hurricane box map should also include a list of emergency contact numbers, such as your insurance provider and local authorities.

Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the most active part of the season occurring from August to September.

If you're planning a sailing trip during this time, be aware that most yacht insurance companies require catamarans to be north of 30.5 degrees longitude or south of 10 degrees north latitude from July 1st to November 1st.

The insurance premium will be higher if you keep your yacht in the Hurricane box during this time frame.

If your yacht is located in the box during hurricane season, the named storm deductible could be 15-20% in the event of damage caused by a named storm.

You'll need to submit a Named Storm Plan if your yacht is in the Hurricane box during hurricane season.

The key to surviving a catastrophic storm is being well-prepared. Don't wait until the last minute, or you may find yourself in a very tough situation.

Hurricane season in South Florida officially runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity usually happening between August and October.

To assess the risks, it's essential to understand basic terminology. A Tropical Storm is a wind system with maximum sustained wind speeds between 39 mph and 73 mph, while a Hurricane is a large rotating storm with sustained wind speeds of at least 74 mph.

Here's a list of essential supplies to include in your Hurricane Emergency Supply Checklist:

Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the most active part of the season occurring from August to September.

If you live in a coastal area, you're likely no stranger to the threat of hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season is particularly notorious for its intense storms.

The most active part of the hurricane season happens between August and September, which is also the peak tourist season in many coastal towns.

If you own a boat, you'll need to be aware of the special insurance requirements during this time. Most yacht insurance companies will require that your vessel be north of 30.5 degrees longitude or south of 10 degrees north latitude from July 1st to November 1st.

This is often referred to as the "Hurricane box", and if your boat is located in this area during hurricane season, you'll need to pay a higher insurance premium. The standard deductible may not go up, but the named storm deductible could be 15-20% in the event of damage caused by a named storm.

Hurricane season in South Florida typically runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity between August and October. It's essential to be prepared for a catastrophic storm.

The key to surviving a hurricane is being well-prepared, so don't wait until the last minute. Read this post or watch our 3-part video series on YouTube for tips on how to prepare for a hurricane.

Let's start with some basic terminology to help you assess the risks: a Tropical Depression has maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less, while a Tropical Storm has winds between 39 mph and 73 mph. A Hurricane is a large rotating storm with sustained winds of at least 74 mph.

You'll also want to know when to expect a storm. A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical storm conditions are possible in the next 48 hours, while a Tropical Storm Warning is issued when conditions are expected in the next 36 hours. A Hurricane Watch is issued when hurricane conditions are possible in the next 48 hours, and a Hurricane Warning is issued when conditions are expected in the next 36 hours.

A Storm Surge is an abnormal rise in sea level during a hurricane, which can be especially dangerous. To prepare for this, have a detailed Hurricane Emergency Supply Checklist to plan and shop for essential supplies well in advance.

Some essential items to include on your checklist are:

Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the most active part of the season occurring from August to September.

Know what's in your policy: Read the sections that address Water, Wind/Hail, and Named Storm. It's essential to understand what you're covered for and what you're not. If you're unsure, ask your agent for clarification.

Make sure any remodeling meets current code: If you do any improvements to your property, ensure they're done up to current code standards regarding Wind/Hail and Named Storm. This will help your building better withstand the increased wind speeds in a catastrophic storm.

Be prepared to provide your tenant with storm safety information: As a landlord, include information about emergency kits, safe shelter, and first aid in your welcome packet. This will help them plan for an emergency, even if they're not familiar with the area.

Don't assume your tenant's personal property is covered: Include a clause in your lease requiring tenants to carry renters insurance. Make sure you enforce it, as your insurance policy won't cover their personal belongings.

Having a good relationship with your insurer is key to mitigating risk during hurricane season. They have access to decades of data on past storm damage and can recommend marinas with good track records.

Talk to your insurer about your plans and they may suggest marinas that are well-equipped to handle storms. For example, some marinas have invested in dry racks that can bring a boat up 8 or 10 feet off the ground, making them more resilient to storm surges.

Risk is a major consideration when it comes to insurance, and understanding the factors that contribute to it can help you make informed decisions. The next most important thing after your personal storm plan is the place where you plan to ride out the storm.

Yacht insurers have access to decades worth of records that show where past storm damage was concentrated, and where it was mitigated. This data is crucial in determining the risk associated with a particular location.

Marinas in the hurricane zone are developing technology to lessen or eliminate damage in a storm, such as dry racks that can bring a boat up 8 or 10 feet off the ground. With a strong dry rack, you'll be able to weather most storms.

The vast majority of the damage done in storms is from the storm surge, not the wind. This is why marinas are investing in features like storm cradles, keel pits, and tie-down anchors set in concrete.

State-of-the-art marinas in storm territory have responded to the challenge of accommodating sailboats with complicated rigs and underbodies by using storm cradles and keel pits. These features can help mitigate the risk of damage.

As you plan your trip, look for marinas that have a good track record with past storms. Talking to your insurer can help you find these marinas and make informed decisions about your cruising plans.

Adding Named Storm Coverage can be a crucial step in protecting your property from severe weather events. Your agent can typically either add Named Storm coverage or set up a separate policy specifically for that peril.

Named Storm coverage can increase your premium significantly, as most catastrophic coverages do. Adding it to your existing policy can be a good option if you want to keep your coverage in one place.

Adding Named Storm Coverage can be a crucial step in protecting your property from severe weather. Your agent can typically either add Named Storm coverage or set up a separate policy specifically for that peril.

Adding Named Storm coverage does typically increase the premium significantly, as most catastrophic coverages do.

It's essential to discuss your options with your agent to determine the best course of action for your specific situation.

A Named Storm is a specific type of storm system identified and named by the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service. This can include tropical storms and hurricanes.

To qualify as a Named Storm, a storm system must meet certain criteria, including being identified and named by the National Hurricane Center. The duration of a Named Storm is typically considered to include the time when tropical storm or hurricane conditions exist, plus 72 hours after the final watch or warning is issued.

Adding Named Storm coverage to your policy can be done through your agent, who may also set up a separate policy specifically for this peril. Be prepared for a significant increase in premium, similar to what you'd see with other catastrophic coverages like Flood and Earthquake.

Insurance carriers use Tier 1 and Tier 2 to define coastal areas and determine the risk of a Named Storm. Some carriers draw their coverage lines according to counties, while others use a certain distance from the coast.

The Tier system usually starts at the tip of Texas and snakes around the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, continuing up the Eastern Seaboard. The Pacific Coast is usually left out of the Tier system.

Tier 1 areas are typically those that are the counties right along the coastline, while Tier 2 areas are typically the counties located one more county from the coastline. Some carriers will define Tier 1 to extend a certain amount of miles inland from the coast and Tier 2 yet another specified amount of miles beyond that.

It's very important to know what tier your property sits in and how coverage is affected in that tier.

The Hebert Boxes are a crucial tool for predicting hurricane landfall in Florida. They're essentially a geographic location where hurricanes can intensify and be steered towards the state.

Hurricanes that pass through the boxes have plenty of space to intensify, and the prevailing winds tend to push them towards Florida. Many of these storms form in the far eastern Atlantic, like Irma did.

To qualify as a possible threat to Florida, a hurricane must have 110 mph winds and track through the box, rather than forming outside the box or crossing it as a weak hurricane or tropical storm. This means that storms like Katrina in 2005, which formed outside the box, are less likely to threaten Florida.

If a hurricane passes outside the box, it's either too close to land to intensify much, or it's far enough away from land that it's more subject to the influences of steering winds and other atmospheric conditions. This can cause the hurricane to curve outwards over the Atlantic and miss landfall altogether.

Hurricane Maria passed through one of the boxes, but ultimately missed Florida after a landfall in Puerto Rico. Gilbert also passed through a box, but didn't turn north towards Florida.