Everyone’s calendar has a June 1. It is the start of hurricane season. Most likely, a hurricane will not hit that day.
In fact you may be pessimistic about forecasters… they’ve “blown it” and “oversold it” so may times in the past and it hasn’t happened to you yet. But it is a bad bet to assume that some unknown force will prevent all hurricanes. And you can be sure, that when the next big one hits, plenty of folks will be caught napping for just that reason.
Every prediction this year reflects the fact that conditions are perfect for an above-average hurricane season. Warmer water, reduced shear, disaster denial, and budget cuts for satellite monitoring all point to concern. And there are weather patterns that are pushing cold air from the North, dry air from the West and moist warm air from the gulf all converging in the exact same spot. One hurricane can change lives forever. Not only if you are directly hit at point zero, but the indirect losses caused by the disaster (houses and businesses shaken badly, supply shortages, lost business, insurance premium hikes) will have major impacts. Why will your employees come to work if they are concerned about their families?
2011 has already brought record catastrophes: Many major earthquakes, devastating tsunamis, and radiation in Japan, over 900 tornados in the Southeast, and major flooding on the Mississippi. Why would you expect hurricane season to break this pattern? Yes, hurricanes will come. Several will more than likely be major. Media will show scary pictures. Homes and businesses destroyed, and lives lost. We cannot stop all events. We can predict them and plan for them.
Federal forecasters Thursday May 19th called for an “above-normal” 2011 hurricane season, with:
1. 12-18 named storms predicted to form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
2. Of those, 6-10 should become hurricanes,
3. including 3 to 6 major hurricanes, with wind speeds above 111 mph.
Climate factors in this outlook include unusually warm Atlantic Ocean water, with temperatures some two degrees above average, reports Gerry Bell, lead seasonal forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. Additionally, the impacts of the La Nina climate pattern, such as reduced wind shear, are expected to continue into the hurricane season. The NOAA forecast is similar to earlier predictions by researchers at Colorado State University and the AccuWeather commercial service.
Watch out Florida!
See this video report: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2011-05-10-hurricane-season-forecast-noaa_n.htm
Here are 3 mega-important Tips
for preparing that
you may not be aware of:
1. Grab n’ Go Box
Get ready to run! Plan ahead what you will take with you. Important docs, photos, legal papers, prescriptions, scrapbooks, creative/intellectual material. Digitally send copies to family and friends in other remote locations or store them online. Have a copy of these essentials in another location (city or state). Keep a camera handy.
2. Insurance
Keep a copy of all insurance papers in another location or on an online back up service. Remember, insurance needs may include water damage and mold or specialty items like fine art or collectibles which are not included in a “normal” policy. You may need additional coverage. Make a call to you agent and find out. Federal insurance programs can be cheap! . Keep a camera handy.
3. Anchor Down Collectibles
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles invented an anchoring wax20 years ago or so to protect fragile collectibles from shaking buildings. But it was found that not only the items were saved but… collectibles become flying missiles in a hurricane or earthquake. Protect your family and pets by keeping things anchored down. Its more likely that you will be harmed by something flying through the air than the roof falling in on you. See “museum Wax” below top photo for videos and more info.
For more information
on protecting and saving your valuable personal items go to www.saveyourstuffblog.com
What goes in the grab n' go kit?
For appraisal questions go to www.faclappraisals.com
For conservation and restoration questions go to www.fineartconservationlab.com
Scott M. Haskins
805 564 3438
Hi Scott,
Thank you so much for the promised info and the museum wax, you are a man of your word. I will protect my Lalique collection ASAP.
Thanks again, I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness. I look forward to staying in contact.
Warmly, Ilse
I liked your article. It looks like this season is starting out pretty wet. Thanks for your suggestions on how to save my collectibles.
This was such a nice post with great info!!! You already know, but I’ll say it to your readers, a company like ours that does water damage repairs doesn’t… or shouldn’t touch/repair artwork and collectibles, like what you talk about. For those kinds of items a person needs a specialist. Your information is right “on the money” and thanks for getting this hard to find info out to the public. I will visit again for updates.
Thanks Kate for your comments. I’ve left your link for people to go to your website. And thanks for letting people know that your kind of company works on the flooring and furnishings and that a person needs specialized help when dealing with water damage on antiques, artwork and collectibles.