AIA ISSUES HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS RECOMMENDATIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 30, 2012 – The American Insurance Association (AIA) today issued several preparation recommendations for the start of hurricane season, which begins on June 1. Policyholders can expect to see nine to 15 tropical storms with four to eight intensifying into hurricanes according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While meteorologists are predicting a ‘near-normal’ hurricane season, policyholders should still be prepared.
“With Friday marking the official start of hurricane season, it’s important that residents are appropriately prepared,” said Leigh Ann Pusey, AIA’s president and CEO. “2011 saw one of the busiest hurricane seasons since 2008, and should serve as a reminder about the importance of being prepared for all natural disasters. In all things, however, we stress safety first. People should not put themselves in harm’s way.”
In anticipation of hurricane season, AIA has released three sets of recommendations aimed at helping policyholders to prepare, recover and rebuild from natural disasters. These recommendations may be found on AIA’s website, and by clicking the hyperlinks below:
1. Hurricane Safety and Preparedness Tips
Recommendations on how to prepare your home for a hurricane. AIA recommends that homeowners and businesses that may be affected by a storm follow prudent guidelines to ensure a safe and successful recovery.
2. Tips for Homeowners Following a Hurricane
Should policyholders be evacuated from their homes due to a hurricane, these recommendations provide practical advice on how they might re-enter and report damage caused by the storm. The tips also provide residents with recommendations about how to report damage to their insurer, safety procedures when re-entering a residence struck by a natural disaster, and rebuilding after the storm.
3. Catastrophe Claim Reporting Phone Numbers for Contacting AIA Member Companies
A list of AIA member company claims departments’ contact information for policyholders should they need to report a claim and/or have a question about their coverage.
Further information may also be found by visiting AIA's Catastrophe Central: http://www.aiadc.org/aiapub/landing.aspx?m=3&v=230&docid=307485
“The start of the 2012 hurricane season serves as a reminder that adequate preparedness is a shared responsibility,” said Pusey. “Insurers prepare year-round for hurricanes that could potentially impact policyholders by building both the financial and human claims response resources that are at the heart of our industry. Coastal residents need to prepare as well by developing family disaster response plans, taking the necessary, yet safe steps to protect their homes from damaging wind and water, as well as reviewing their insurance coverage. In addition, it’s critically important that government at all levels be prepared to respond not just to the initial threat of a hurricane but the aftermath as well,” Pusey concluded.