Scientists Unite to Tackle Hurricane Season

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Hurricanes are a huge global issue, but you may be surprised to hear humanity won’t be plagued by them much longer. A cohort of scientists in Central America put their heads together and devised what they call, “A very simple solution.” Raul Martinez, director of the Tontos de Abril Project in Costa Rica explained, “Hurricanes form over warm oceans. By reducing water temperature, we can also reduce storm formations.”

Hurricanes are intense areas of low pressure that form over the warm, open, ocean waters from summer through fall. The resulting water vapor is what gives the storms their energy. Martinez and his team plan to tap emerging technology and natural resources to tackle the problem. A multi-national network of satellites will help meteorologists predict patterns of low pressure at sea. Once these “hot spots” are identified, it’s the geologists’ turn.

Aboard specially equipped vessels, Martinez’ team will transport large iceberg segments from the Arctic into the warm Caribbean waters. As the ice melts it will reduce water temperature and thus prevent the formation of excess water vapor, inhibiting storm formation and energy.

But what about our melting polar ice caps? Renowned geologist Dr. Jorge Hielo addressed that issue with cold hard facts, “The icebergs will slowly melt in the warmer southern waters and expand the cold temperature barrier around the arctic basin. The expanding barrier will help maintain climate consistency, slowing the melt rate and stabilizing the area.”

The Tontos de Abril Project expects to reduce hurricane activity by 30% by September 31st of 2018. Scientists also anticipate residual benefits from the project like the creation of new feeding grounds for polar bears. “It’s possible some polar bears will get stranded on the icebergs as they’re relocated,” Martinez confesses, “However, these bears will be introduced to a new, high protein diet, that of Caribbean fish, shark, and crustaceans, all of which will promote renewed vitality in the vulnerable species.”

Martinez’s team is widely known in the United States as the Fools of April Project…yep…Happy April Fool’s Day!

If this hurricane reduction idea seems crazy to you, so does not preparing at all! Visit our website to take advantage of the free resources that can help keep your home and family secure during a storm. And we guarantee—no polar bears were involved in our disaster preparedness plans, just years of experience helping Floridians stay safe.

 

 

5 Reasons Why an Insurance Company May Deny Your Hurricane Claim 

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Few things are worse than having an insurance claim denied, especially after a devastating event like a hurricane. But as you may already well know, it can be an all too common occurrence. Sometimes customers fight the denials and win, spending months or even years trying to convince someone that they deserve coverage. But it’s usually far easier to have a better understanding of how your policy works.

You Don’t Have Flood Insurance

Homeowners in designated flood zones are required to buy some type of flood coverage, but more than half of people affected by flooding damage during a hurricane live outside the zoning lines. It’s a good idea to educate yourself about the benefits of flood insurance whether you live in a designated flood zone or not. The National Flood Insurance Program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures. Check out their site to learn more about their program!

Cleaning Up Is Circumstantial

If a tree breaks the windows of your home or crushes your car, this is usually covered by your policy. If it was your car that was damaged, typically your auto insurance policy is the best outlet to cover your claim. But if a tree happens to fall in your yard, you’re usually on the hook to clean it up. You may even need to cover the damage if your neighbor’s tree falls on your house. It’s best to cooperate with your neighbor, let them know that you are reporting the claim to your insurance company and share any pertinent information with them as long as your carrier permits.

Your Policy Has Certain Exclusions

In 45 states in the US (including Florida), insurance policies have a (heavily buried) clause that allows them to deny claims if two catastrophic events occurred simultaneously and one of those events wasn’t covered. In other words, if the wind took out half your roof and flooded your basement, both claims might be denied if you didn’t have flood insurance.

Federal Flood Insurance Is Limited

If you do happen to live in a designated flood zone and were required to purchase federal flood insurance, it doesn’t automatically mean that your claim will be approved. The minimum federal flood insurance will only cover the structure of the home as opposed to any outdoor property. So if your pool was destroyed during the hurricane, you may be out of luck.

You Haven’t Factored in Both Deductibles

When it comes to hurricane claims, homeowners have one deductible for loss and theft as well as an annual deductible for a hurricane. So your claim can conceivably be denied because you need to meet both deductible minimums before your policy kicks in (exact deductibles depend on your policy).

Homeowners do have recourse if their claim is denied, it’s just a lot more work than understanding your coverage up front. Don’t wait until you are forced to file a claim to find out that you don’t have the right homeowners insurance policy. Synergy Insurance can make it easier (and less confusing) to ensure that you get the coverage you need. Get a free, no-obligation insurance checkup if you think your coverage is lacking, and let us be your insurance experts!

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