The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will begin on June 1 and end on November 30. For those people who live and work in coastal regions, it will be a hurricane season to closely monitor. According to AccuWeather, “a super-charged hurricane season could spawn a near-record number of storms in the Atlantic this year.”
AccuWeather meteorologists based this prediction on sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic basin and the Gulf of Mexico that are well above the historical average. Warm ocean temperatures enable hurricanes to rapidly strengthen when there is not significant wind shear, which involves a change in wind direction or speed over a horizontal or vertical distance.
According to AccuWeather, wind shear is important, and meteorologists have examined water near the equator of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
When water temperatures in this region of the eastern Pacific are lower than historical averages, then a La Niña climate pattern occurs. La Niña impacts the Atlantic hurricane season because it results in less wind shear and enables hurricanes to quickly strengthen without disruption.
AccuWeather has predicted that there will be 20-25 named storms with 8-12 of those storms developing into hurricanes and 4-7 of those storms becoming major hurricanes.
But when you look at predictions for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, there are two essential factors to consider:
- It is very difficult to accurately predict weather conditions several months in advance.
- It only takes one hurricane to cause mass devastation.
My Personal Experience with Hurricane Ian
The hurricane season of 2022 was one of the most quiet hurricane seasons since 1941, according to USA Today. But on September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida and was one of the worst hurricanes to strike the United States.
Three days prior to Hurricane Ian making landfall in my hometown, I was in the Bahamas and watching the storm develop. News meteorologists were saying to pay close attention because the conditions between Cuba and southwest Florida were favorable for rapid storm development.
As Hurricane Ian approached my area, there was no way I could anticipate how bad this storm was going to be. With my home shuttered and prepared, I rode the storm out across the street at my neighbor’s house. I had a two-story home, but I was not sure that the roof was going to hold. My neighbor had a single-story home.
The eye of Hurricane Ian passed just to the south of my home, and I remained within the inner bands of the storm without the break of going through the eye of Hurricane Ian. As the storm lessened, my home looked good from the outside. I walked across the street to ensure that there was no damage.
As I walked into my front door, water was raining through the subflooring from the second floor to the first floor in the living room, dining room and kitchen. When I went upstairs, the ceiling had collapsed in certain areas. All areas where there was damaged drywall, ceiling or flooring had to be replaced.
Over the next year, my home was rebuilt. I was one of the lucky ones because I had homeowner’s insurance and there was no flooding in my home. Other residents in my area lost everything with very little recourse.
Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ian
After undergoing the experience of Hurricane Ian, I learned some useful lessons:
- Ensure that your homeowner’s insurance covers hurricanes. In particular, be certain that there is no language in the policy that states that water must enter the home through a storm-caused opening. If water enters through soffits in your home, that may not be considered a storm-caused opening.
- If you are in any type of flood zone, it is worth getting flood insurance. Many people who had their homes destroyed by Hurricane Ian were not covered because homeowner’s insurance does not cover floods. Flood insurance is a separate insurance policy and is typically issued through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Take photographs of everything. Take photographs before a storm strikes and during the storm if damage is occurring to your home and taking pictures is safe. After the storm ends, take pictures of all the damage as well as the parts of your home that were not damaged. If your insurance company denies your hurricane claim because it alleges that your home flooded, showing photographs of walls, flooring and other areas without water damage will be critical in proving your claim.
- Homeowner’s insurance companies are notorious for becoming insolvent following a major hurricane. When that situation occurs, they are no longer under an obligation to pay for your claim, and it happened in my case. In Florida, the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association has a duty to settle claims when an insurance company goes out of business and becomes insolvent. It is worth checking to see if your state’s legislation has a similar backup plan for insurance claims if the company goes out of business.
- Consider the services of a public adjuster. A public adjuster is independent of your insurance company and assesses the damages associated with your claim. Since public adjusters are experts in assessing damage, their role is to facilitate a hurricane claim that makes the home whole again. The credentials of a public adjuster should be evaluated based on their reviews and reputation.
Now Is the Time to Plan for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
As the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, now is the time to have a plan in place. The plan should include establishing evacuation routes, writing a list of essential items and documents to take if authorities say that an evacuation is necessary, and reviewing your homeowner’s insurance policy.
Before the storm arrives, gas stations may be out of fuel and store shelves may become empty. Having useful supplies such as batteries, non-perishable food and water is essential for your comfort.
After a major hurricane, electrical and cell phone towers will probably not be working. In my case, I did not have electrical power in my home for 10 days.
It’s also a good idea to inform out-of-the-area family members of your evacuation plan. If you need help, telling family members where you’ll be will ensure that someone knows where to send help to you after the storm if necessary.
It’s difficult to predict what exactly will happen during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. But planning ahead will go a long way toward giving you some peace of mind.
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