Hurricane Season started on June 1 and ends November 30.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAH) recommends that those in hurricane prone regions, to prepare for the season immediately.

Ernest Caponegro, president of I & E Insurance Agency,Point Pleasant NJ, commenting on
the recent Hurricane report stated: ” Even though Hurricane Sandy effected our area
hard in 2012, we are seeing home and property owners dismissing any possibility of another hurricane hitting our area.  This is unfortunate; people’s attitudes are troubling with comments ranging from ” it can’t happen twice, to it’s a waste of money and Uncle Sam will cover me.” We are seeing people reduce coverage and in some cases completely eliminating their flood insurance policies.  This kind of attitude will hurt property owners severely
if another event were to happen while they are unprepared.”

Presently, the chances are for about a 50% for a below-normal season, 40% chance of a near-normal season, and just a 10% of an above-normal season.  NOAA predicts a likely development of El Nino during the summer or early fall and a 70 percent chance of 8 to 13 named storms, of which three to six are predicted to strengthen to a hurricane (with top winds of 74 mph or higher).  Of those, one to two are expected to become major hurricanes (with top winds of 111 mph or higher, ranking Category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). 

Mr. Caponegro further commented: “Property owners should have the proper insurance coverage for peace of mind and the ability to recover and restart from what they have lost. Unfortunately, some people treat Insurance as a mantance program and an investment account. This is wrong. Insurance should allow one to come back from a catastrophe, providing a fresh start, no worse, no better (outside of a deductible amount) than before that event occurred. It’s apparent in the current political environment, where entitlement is the operative word, people feel they are due compensation and are ignoring their own personal responsibility, and some even expect the Government and others to pay for their mistakes.  The reality of that philosophy may be very disappointing and most will find little consolidation after a loss occurs.  We encourage all property owners to be diligent, do their own research as to the benefits of insurance and the potential risks of  ignoring proper risk management .”