THE 2017 SEASON IS UNDERWAY

THE 2017 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON GOT HURRICANES AND RELATED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, underway June 1 and runs through November 30. 1997-2016 “We anticipate that the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season will have MADE AS YEAR TOTAL HURRICANES1 DEATHS2 near-average activity,” said Dr. Philip Klotzbach, meteorologist in the HURRICANE IN THE U.S. Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University 1997 1 1 6 (CSU) and the Tropical Meteorology Project (TMP). “This forecast is due to a combination of predicted warm neutral ENSO to weak El 1998 10 3 23 Niño conditions combined with a somewhat warmer than normal 1999 8 2 60 tropical Atlantic.” 2000 8 0 4 The TMP also found that six of the 13 storms will become hur- 2001 9 0 42 ricanes and that two will become major hurricanes, with maximum sustained winds of more than 111 mph. This is slightly below the 2002 4 1 5 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major 2003 7 2 24 hurricanes. A major hurricane is one that is Category 3 or stronger on 2004 9 63 59 the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. 2005 15 7 1,518 NOAA FORECAST 2006 5 0 0 For the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from 2007 6 1 1 June 1 through November 30, forecasters at the National Oceanic and 2008 8 44 41 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict a 45 percent chance 2009 3 15 6 of an above-normal season, a 35 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 20 percent chance of a below-normal season. 2010 12 0 11 NOAA predicted in late May 2017 that the 2017 Atlantic hurri- 2011 7 1 44 cane season would likely be above normal, producing 11 to 17 named 2012 10 16 83 storms. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said that as many as nine 2013 2 0 1 of those storms could become hurricanes (with winds of 74 mph or higher) and up to four could become major hurricanes (with winds of 2014 6 1 2 111 mph or higher). These numbers include Tropical Storm Arlene, a 2015 4 0 3 rare pre-season storm that formed over the eastern Atlantic in April. 2016 7 3 36 The outlook reflects NOAA’s expectation of a weak or

1 Atlantic Basin. 2 Includes fatalities from high winds of less than hurricane force from tropical storms. 3 One hurricane (Alex) is considered a strike but not technically a landfall. 4 Includes one hurricane (Hanna) which made landfall as a tropical storm. 5 Hurricane Ida, which made landfall as a tropical storm. 6 Excludes which made landfall as a post-tropical storm. Source: Insurance Information Institute from data supplied by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Hur- ricane Center.

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TOP THREE STATES BY INFLATION-ADJUSTED INSURED CATASTROPHE non-existent El Nino and the absence of 1 other conditions that suppress hurricane LOSSES, 1987-2016 activity. In an average season, there are 12 (2016 $ billions) named storms and three become major hurricanes. According to NOAA, there is New only a 20 percent chance of below-normal York 1 Adjusted for inflation through 2016 by storm activity this year. The agency has Texas $44.9 ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator. new online tools to help people determine $63.5 8.3% Excludes catastrophes causing direct losses less than $25 million in 1997 dollars. their risk from approaching storms, includ- 11.7% Excludes flood damage covered by the ing more precise predictions of a storm’s federally administered National Flood arrival time than have previously been Rest of the U.S.2 $70.8 Insurance Program. available. $364.3 2 Includes the other 47 states plus During the 2016 North Atlantic hur- 13% 67% Washington, D.C., , and the U.S. ricane season, 15 named storms formed Virgin Islands. in the Atlantic basin, seven of which were Source: Property Claim Services (PCS)®, a hurricanes, and four of which were major unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® business. hurricanes. was just the second hurricane on record to form in the Atlantic Basin during the month of January according to NOAA. Storms to have made landfall in the United States in 2016 are Tropical Storm Kevelighan warned that disaster losses policies. Flood damage is excluded under Bonnie and in South along both the East and Gulf Coasts are standard home and business policies. Carolina, and Tropical Storms Colin and projected to escalate in the coming years, Separate flood coverage can be purchased Julia and in Florida. in part because of spikes in building and from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Hermine was the first hurricane to make property development. Program (NFIP), and from a few private landfall in Florida since Wilma in 2005. “With the Atlantic hurricane season insurance companies. In the Pacific, 18 named storms devel- upon us, we have an opportunity to pro- Damage to cars from tropical storms oped and 10 became hurricanes in 2016. mote community resilience with greater and hurricanes is covered under the In early September, Hurricanes Lester emphasis on solutions that can save lives optional comprehensive portion of an auto and Madeline threatened Hawaii before and prevent losses,” he said. “The key to insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage veering off. On September 6, Hurricane having a lasting impact is to build and includes wind damage, flooding and falling Newton made landfall on the southern tip grow a resilience movement that helps objects such as tree limbs. of Mexico’s Baja California as a Category 1 businesses, communities and individuals NOAA warns that hurricane disasters storm with winds of 90 mph. plan ahead. This kind of preparation helps can occur whether the season is active or by lowering insurance costs, reducing relatively quiet. It only takes one hurri- PREPARATION IS KEY losses, and encouraging faster recovery and cane (or even a tropical storm) to cause a “Coastal residents need to be mindful rebuilding of our cities and infrastructure.” disaster. Therefore, residents, businesses, that it only takes one hurricane to ravage According to the I.I.I., wind dam- and government agencies of coastal and communities and shatter lives,” said Sean age from tropical storms and hurricanes near-coastal regions are urged to prepare Kevelighan, chief executive officer with the is covered under standard homeown- for every hurricane season regardless of Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I). ers, renters and business insurance any seasonal outlook.

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