Natural disasters can occur at any time, in any place. Though some areas are more prone to certain types of disasters than others (like seasonal homes or condos), there is often the possibility that the weather can throw you a curveball — i.e. a tornado could touch down in an area that has never seen a tornado before.
This is why it’s important that you understand various natural disasters and what you should do if a natural disaster impacts you and your property.
The Evolution of Forecasting
Ever since the start of civilization, people have wondered how weather is forecasted. Early civilizations often relied on astrology to predict the weather, as the ancient peoples noticed that cloud formations meant certain weather conditions.
Prior to the nineteenth century, there was much guessing regarding weather forecasting, even though data for meteorology could be gathered using instruments such as a barometer, thermometer and hygrometer, which was used to measure the amount of humidity.
Weather forecasting became more of a science as Robert Fitzroy, the captain of the ship that took Charles Darwin to the Galapagos Islands, started measuring pressure systems and their relationships to clouds to warn people of oncoming storms. As a resident of England, Fitzroy made use of telegraph wires to gather data from coastal areas. Before long, Fitzroy used this data in order to predict events such as temperature change and rain storms.
As weather forecasting evolved into a science, countries worldwide invested in forecasting equipment that allowed their scientists to more closely study the atmosphere and more accurately predict future weather conditions.
Even though our modern weather forecasting is done through complex computer models, it is impossible to guarantee that weather forecasts are 100% accurate. The reason that forecasts cannot be completely accurate is that forecasters are unable to view all the elements that are part of a weather forecast due to the vastness of the atmosphere.
Thus comes the art of forecasting, whereby the experience of the forecaster will enable them to make predictions that sometimes differ from the models of the computers because. And sometimes, the prediction of the experienced forecaster will actually differ from the prediction of the computer models but may be more accurate because the analytical ability of the forecaster is still a necessary component of providing an accurate forecast.
Intriguing Facts About Lightning: A Very Unpredictable Natural Disaster
Lightning strikes are one of the most frightening natural disasters. The odds of being struck by lightning change from state to state, and the reasons for this are varied and include the density of the population and the frequency at which people go outside. For instance, the odds of getting struck by lightning in West Virginia are one in approximately 464,000, but the odds in Maryland are much better — one in approximately 5.8 million.
Though lightning strikes are more likely to occur during the summer, they can occur any time of the year. July is the prime month for lightning strikes, most of which occur in the afternoon. And men are much more likely to be struck by lightning than women. It may be hard to believe, but approximately one-third of injuries caused by lightning happen inside.
There are some very simple rules you can follow to help avoid being struck by lightning. When you first see lightning, if you hear thunder before you can count to 30, you should go indoors. And stay there for 30 minutes after the last thunderclap that you hear.
You may have heard that shoes with rubber soles will protect you from lightning. That is simply not true. Neither will rubber tires protect you from lightning. However, your steel-encased vehicle can protect you from lightning if you are not touching the vehicle when it strikes.
Make sure all your windows are closed and shutters are put in place. If you do not have shutters, it would be a good idea to close the blinds or curtains. You should also make sure to unplug electronics.
Remember there is no safe place to protect yourself from lightning when you are outdoors. In order to minimize your risk of being struck by lightning if you are unable to go inside, you should not go anywhere near trees that are all by themselves. Also, staying in an open field is not a good idea. If you happen to be in a forest of trees when a lightning storm strikes, avoiding the stand-alone trees and get closer to lower and more abundant growth of trees, as this will be your best option for remaining safe.
If a lightning storm strikes while you are camping, it is important that you realize a tent will not protect you from lightning. It would be a good idea to set up your camp in a low-lying area such as a gully. And don’t go anywhere near water, metal or wet things, as they are great conductors of electricity.
If you’re boating and you get stuck in a storm and can’t get back to land, get as low as possible in your boat. Many more injuries from lightning occur in boats that don’t have cabins. Try to stay away from metal surfaces, and use the radio if at all possible.
While people generally don’t take into account the dangers that can occur from lightning even if you are indoors, it is wise to take precautions there as well. Avoid talking on a corded phone during a storm, and don’t touch electrical cords during a storm. If you have not already unplugged your electrical appliances before the start of the storm, don’t unplug them during the storm. Additionally, you should avoid doing dishes or taking a shower during a lightning storm. And one of the little known safety facts regarding indoor safety during a lightning storm is to avoid lying on concrete floors or leaning against concrete walls.
We all know lightning is hot, but how hot exactly? When lightning is passing through the air, it can heat the air up to five times hotter than the exterior area of the sun. One way to prevent lightning damage to your home during a lightning storm is to install a lightning protection system. This system not only attracts lightning, but it also acts as a sort of surge protector and essentially will protect all the electronics in your home.
Flooding: A Disaster That Impacts You No Matter Where You Live
Flooding can impact anyone, even if you don’t live near a body of water. You may be a homeowner who has gone for years or even decades without any flooding to your basement, and then one particularly severe rainstorm that occurs when the soil is already saturated causes major flooding in your basement. Although you can’t stop the flood, there are some tips to help reduce the damage when there is an immediate threat of flooding:
- Clear out the downspouts or drains, as this can help reduce the amount of flooding and therefore possibly reduce the damage.
- If at all possible, roll up your rugs and store them at a higher elevation so they don’t get damaged.
- Check the batteries in your sump pump and replace them if necessary.
- Ensure that your electrical system is shut off at the breaker to reduce the risk of electrocution especially if the area that may be flooded has electrical outlets that might be under water.
- If there is any furniture in the areas that may be flooded, be sure to move that furniture to higher ground so that it will not be damaged by the flooding.
- While it may not be feasible to move heavy appliances to higher ground, it would be beneficial to put them up on concrete blocks that are more than one foot over the level of expected flooding.
Tornadoes: The Violence of Mother Nature
Tornadoes originate as part of very severe thunderstorms and can occur in any state in the U.S. While many tornadoes are very visible due to the presence of their distinctive funnel clouds, some tornadoes hide in clouds and come up so suddenly, there is not much warning at all. The winds of these damaging funnel clouds can wreak havoc, as they have the potential to gather speeds up to 300 miles per hour.
In states where tornadoes are prevalent, they often have warning sirens. But in those states where tornadoes are not frequent, it is still important to watch for the signs of these storms:
- Listen to weather forecasts and follow the alerts. If you hear there is a tornado warning, take shelter.
- Signs of a tornado include skies of a greenish hue, very large hail, dark clouds that are lying very low in the sky or a loud roar that is coming from the sky.
When hurricanes and tropical storms move onto land, they can combine with tornadoes. While most tornadoes that occur east of the Rocky Mountains are most prevalent during spring and summer, the highest levels of tornado season vary between the southern and northern states. Southern states have the most tornadoes between March and May, while northern states have more tornadoes later in the spring and early into the summer. And there is a particular time of day when most tornadoes occur, as the majority of tornadoes will occur during the late afternoon and early evening hours between 3 and 9 p.m.
After knowing some of the facts about tornadoes, it is important to have an understanding of what to do if you are at risk for a tornado touching down near you. If you are in your home, a small building or a high-rise building, you should go to the lowest level. If there is no basement, stay in the center of a room that is close to the middle, such as a hallway or closet. You should stay as far away from the outside as possible. Get under a table and place your arms above your head that so you have protection for your head and your neck.
If you are in a trailer or mobile home, it will offer you very little protection from the storm. You should leave this structure right away and go to a storm cellar or other building that can provide you with some shelter.
If you are out in the open, try to get to a vehicle and drive to a shelter. If it is not possible to drive to a shelter, you should buckle yourself into the vehicle and try to protect your head and neck with any type of cushion.
As a last resort, if you are out in the open and can’t get to a vehicle or shelter, you should try to lie down in the lowest lying area and cover your head and neck with your arms or a coat if you have one. At no time should you try to outrun a tornado — you will not win. You will also not be safe if you think you can hide from or avoid the tornado by staying under a bridge.
Try to avoid flying detritus, as this debris is a significant cause of injuries and fatalities that occur during a tornado.
How to Submit an Insurance Claim From a Natural Disaster
Sometimes when a natural disaster hits, it is so widespread and so significant in one particular area that insurance companies will set up mobile teams specifically created to deal with catastrophes. Insurance companies are able to expedite the claims process for many people who have sustained damage. Often, representatives of insurance companies will provide their customer with special cards for claims, and those cards can be used to help them pay for necessities such as clothing, lodging and food.
As any type of catastrophic natural disaster is not a usual occurrence, filing a claim after a widespread natural disaster is a different process from a typical claim. If your home has been damaged, your claims are classified as insurance claims from natural disasters and you are still able to locate the insurance police documents, it may be easier for you to file a claim with complete access to those documents. If you cannot locate the documents and your home is mortgaged, you can contact your mortgage broker, who should have a copy of the insurance policy on file.
Your insurance company will likely ask you to list the belongings in your home that were damaged, along with the age and cost to replace those items. This may be a difficult task if you can’t recall all the items in your home. That’s why it is important to keep a running inventory of your belongings, even if you need to use your phone to take pictures of them. This will make filing a claim much easier.
Also, keep valuable documents such as deeds, photo IDs and other identification cards in a fire and waterproof box. You may also want to do this with family heirlooms that cannot be replaced.
While your insurance company will provide you with a list of their preferred contractors, you are not obligated to use them. To avoid being taking advantage of by any contractor, either one recommended by the insurance company or one that is recommended by a friend or coworker, make sure you carefully review all estimates and keep a record of any out-of-pocket expenses you incur.
What Natural Disasters Are Covered Under Typical Homeowner’s Insurance Policies?
Generally speaking, typical homeowner’s insurance covers damage from tornadoes but not from other natural disasters such as earthquakes or flooding. It is important when considering homeowner’s insurance and natural disasters that all homeowners review their policies to ensure that they have adequate coverage.
There are three categories of the typical types of homeowner’s coverage:
- Replacement cost is the cost of either repairing or replacing your home, but it often doesn’t reflect the change in pricing for materials and labor, which likely have increased since you purchased your policy.
- Extended replacement cost is when your policy is written in such a way that your insurance company will pay a certain percentage above the replacement cost to allow for the cost of inflation.
- Guaranteed replacement cost is usually very expensive and will pay for the cost of replacing your home regardless of how much the prices have increased since the policy was written.
Renter’s Insurance and Natural Disasters
For those persons who rent, it is important to understand the limitations on a renter’s policy before disaster strikes.
Typical renter’s insurance does not cover damage caused by earthquakes or floods. It will likely cover damages from hail, fire, rain or wind. It would also cover damage from an accident or theft.
Is My Home Protected Under My Insurance Plan?
Now that you know a little bit about natural disasters and about the natural disasters that homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies cover, you may be wondering if you have adequate coverage. To answer that question a little more thoroughly, let’s examine what types of damage homeowner’s policies generally cover. They usually cover damage that is caused by smoke, theft, the weight of snow or ice, freezing of plumbing, heating or air conditioning, lightning or fire, hail or wind, explosions, objects that are falling and aircraft. And your homeowner’s policy covers your belongings even when you are on vacation.
If you have a current homeowner’s or renter’s policy or are thinking of purchasing one, the best plan to determine that you have exactly the right coverage for you is to get together with an insurance agent to discuss the coverage you need, complete with a deductible that works for your budget. Contact Strock Insurance for all your insurance needs. We offer life, auto, business and home insurance. With over 30 years in the business of insurance, here at Strock, we stress our commitment to ensuring that your insurance needs are met for today and in the future.
We are committed to great customer service and have been named one of the best insurance providers in Central Pennsylvania. We offer multiple locations in Cumberland, York and Dauphin counties so you can meet with an agent in person.
If you call or contact us online today, we can provide you with a no-obligation estimate with the commitment to provide the best competitive rates for insurance to individuals and businesses in the Central PA region.
