Stand Next to your Fire: Wildfire Season’s Start and How to Stay Safe

Around this time every year sparks start flying and, no, it’s not a case of blossoming summer love.  The unpleasant truth is that warm weather and dry conditions--which usually start to impact a certain part of the United States in May and June--are hugely contributing factors to wildfires.

By the beginning of June 2012, there have been several notable fires nationwide that seem keen on destroying land and possessions and displacing hundreds of citizens.  States such as Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico have been battling flames for some time now, and the wildfire season has only just begun.

"’We are maintaining vigilance, because there are a lot of hot areas and places that haven't burnt yet,’ spokesman Patrick Lair, said on May 30^th, according to Arizona news website azcentral.com, on the fire that raged through the towns in Arizona.  As of that date, firefighters had managed to contain sixty-five percent of the Gladiator fire with only six houses destroyed, eight people injured, and three communities evacuated temporarily.

In addition to Arizona, Colorado is now facing severe wildfire damage.  The Associated Press wrote that the “nine-square-mile wildfire in southwestern Colorado near the Utah border” was powerful enough to consume over 600 acres of land overnight at the end of May.  This same blaze required six helicopters, in addition to firefighters on the ground, to combat the flames even though fifty percent of it was contained at the time.  Simultaneously, an uncontained fire rapidly grew about 200 miles southwest of Denver.

As severe as the previously mentioned infernos are, there is a state with even more on its proverbial plate, fire-wise.  “A wildfire burning in the Gila National Forest consumed nearly 20,000 more acres in a day and is now, by far, the largest blaze on record in New Mexico,” reported msnbc.com.

The site went on to say that “more than 1,200 firefighters and 12 helicopters from around the state are fighting the blaze,” which, as of the end of May, had burned 170,272 acres--almost 15,000 more acres than the previous state wildfire record set in 2011.  This new, more disastrous blaze was, at the time of writing, zero percent contained and there were very real fears of its continuance until the monsoon season starts in July.

The best way to stay safe in the face of a wildfire is to evacuate, as there’s not a lot that can be done to save a house in the path of a blaze.  But a take a tip from the legendary log cabin in the Gila Forest of New Mexico: this cabin has been at risk of fire, but it was covered in aluminized material that looks like tin foil which, according to msnbc.com, “reflects heat away from the structure and blocks embers from igniting the roof.”

If damage is done to personal property, the best option is to bring in professionals to evaluate the loss so that replacements or compensation can quickly be turned over, allowing families to experience the least amount of stress possible.  Enservio is the expert in contents loss evaluations. Simply put, we help people get their stuff back!

Hail to the Chief: Precipitation Grows Violent in Missouri

Towards the end of April, the St. Louis area of Missouri received some seldom-discussed but entirely destructive weather in the form of a massive hail storm.

What ended up being a hugely expensive and disastrous storm began with strong wind gusts on April 28.  These escalated and one such gust blew over an outdoor party tent at a St. Louis bar.  As a result of this, one man was killed and over a hundred were injured. While wind damage was not widespread, hail damage affected a large part of the region with huge perforations and dents hammered into cars and roofs throughout.

According to the Associated Press as reported by local St. Louis news web site kmov.com, “the number of insurance claims resulting from the damaging hail storm could top 100,000” and that “body shops are backed up for weeks and contractors are going door-to-door in some neighborhoods.”

While businesses specializing in auto glass repair and roofing are taking literally hundreds of calls--almost a month later--in regards to the hail storm on a daily basis, those receiving visits at their front door from repair companies looking to offer their services, should be aware - there are always at least a few scammers among the honest contractors who choose to advertise their services this way.

In the vein of scamming, if a contractor appears on a doorstep after a major weather disaster such as this Missouri storm, it’s crucial to keep one’s guard up and not sign any contracts until research is done.  Yes, the worker at the door seems kind, genuine, and truly concerned.  But this type of rouse is a career for some people and it’s absolutely best to Google company names, ask for references, confirm they are insured, and speak with satisfied customers before committing to using anyone--doorstep pop-in or not.

A major reason why there are so many insurance claims and people in need of repairs in the first place, after the April 28 storm, is two-fold.  First, hail simply isn’t that common. It’s not an uncommon form of precipitation, per say, but it just doesn’t hail enough for people to really be prepared at any time for a hail storm.  Second, there’s really not a whole lot one may actually do to prepare for hail.  It can come in such small sizes that it’s almost indistinguishable from rain and it can be the size of baseballs, like in Missouri last month … or even bigger!

If a chunk of ice the size of sporting equipment hurls itself at a car, that car is going to be damaged no matter how tough and impenetrable it’s built.  The same goes for a roof under similar duress.  There’s just not much to be done in preparation for avoiding hail damage.  When hail hits a garden, holes will be ripped through leaves and petals, the soil will be flooding with melting globules, and pricey landscaping may be ruined due to craters splattered throughout yards and properties. It’s pretty unavoidable.

Those who are filing damage claims in the wake of the hail have done just about all they can do to fight hail damage--making sure they’re insured enough to repair and rebuild.

Sun’s Gonna Rise: The Exit of La Niña and the Impact of Weather Patterns

No, you’re not imagining it; it’s been a much chillier spring near Enservio headquarters than usual.  This is thanks, in part, to the cooling effects of La Niña, a prolonged occurrence of uncharacteristically cool ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific that may lead to numerous weather events.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) web site, “La Niña tends to bring wetter than normal conditions across the Pacific Northwest and dryer and warmer than normal conditions across much of the southern tier.”  The site goes on to state that “the impact of La Niña at these latitudes [is] most clearly seen in wintertime.  In the continental U.S., during a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the Southeast and cooler than normal in the Northwest.”

Luckily for everyone who enjoys warm weather in the traditionally warmer months, though La Niña is taking her leave for the time being and weather is expected to carry on in a slightly more normal fashion for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is not able to accurately predict yet whether La Niña will be followed by her better known sibling, El Niño.  Whereas, “La Niña can last for years and wreaks havoc on weather conditions in Asia and the Americas, where it mainly causes crop-killing drought,” said Insurance Journal, “its more infamous counterpart, El Niño, leads to a heating of water, triggering drought in Southeast Asia and Australia and floods in South America.”

The article goes on to report that the CPC said that, “for now, there should be neutral conditions in the Pacific from July to September, and then this would be ‘followed by approximately equal chances of neutral or El Niño conditions for the remainder of the year.’”

While it’s a relief that La Niña has departed for the present, she has certainly already left her mark on agriculture these past few months.  The world’s second largest supplier of corn, Argentina, has been hard hit and the corn crop greatly affected.  The same goes for Brazil’s soy crop which is also a global leader.  In fact, La Niña may have put a damper on U.S. farming as well.  American corn, soybeans, and cotton were all hit by the cold temperatures and could still yet show signs of damage and lack of growth because of them.

La Niña is capable of doing more than just stunting crops and ruining beach days, though.  This is clearly evidenced by Hurricane Irene, a storm that hit the east coast of the United States during a La Niña year and wreaked massive damage and flooding along the Atlantic.  Hurricane season hasn’t started and La Niña is definitely gone but ocean water doesn’t warm in a day and the temperature change could still affect weather down the line this year.

So, for now, enjoy the coming months of warm sun and tanned skin.  But keep in mind that the earth’s seemingly random cold and warm spells have a far greater impact on global economy and well-being than you may think.

How high’s the water?: The United States Flood Insurance Hearings

Flood insurance sounds pretty self-explanatory to the layman.  The name says it all: it’s a type of insurance a homeowner may purchase to protect his or her home from future flooding.  In some parts of the United States, like Florida and Louisiana and really anywhere near large bodies of water, flood insurance is a must-have but, if a hurricane, or excessive snow strikes a different area, flooding can still become a major problem.

And now flood insurance--and more--is in jeopardy.

A hearing held on May 9 by senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and David Vitter (R-La) addressed the issue of a potential end to flood insurance--a very real threat that could occur if the National Flood Insurance Program, a creation of FEMA (the United States’ Federal Emergency Management Agency), ends without renewal at the end of May as it is currently scheduled to do.

“We’ve been down this road before,” said Senator Tester as reported in Insurance Journal, “and we’ve seen how unproductive and destructive lapses of the program can be.  The unprecedented flooding in the Missouri River basin at this time last year further reminds us of the urgency of passing a long-term reauthorization that offers Americans certainty in the face of risk.”

While this hearing was held by the bipartisan members of the Economic Policy Subcommittee of the Banking Committee, it featured a comprehensive panel of experts such as representatives from the Property and Casualty Insurers Association of America, The Nature Conservancy, and the Missoula County floodplain administrator of Tester’s state of Montana.

The National Flood Insurance Program, according to FEMA’s web site, encompasses three components: flood insurance, floodplain management (a community program of corrective and preventative measures for reducing flood damage), and flood hazard mapping.  FEMA goes on to explain the program by saying that, “nearly 20,000 communities across the United States and its territories participate in the NFIP by adopting and enforcing floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage. In exchange, the NFIP makes Federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in these communities. Community participation in the NFIP is voluntary.”

But many have their issues with the NFIP for various reasons.  Jon A. Jensen, the Governmental Affairs Committee chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, said that the program had accrued $17.2 billion in debt in 2005 and urged modernization of NFIP as well as strengthening its finances.  Property and Casualty Insurers Association of America’s David A. Sampson also voiced concern.  He noted that FEMA seemingly underprices flood insurance policies by 20 to 50 percent (his information is based on a RAND study) and that it amasses at least $1.3 billion in debt per year.

Because permanent reauthorization of the program is not visible in the near future, May 31 will bring about the end of the National Flood Insurance Program unless an extension is adopted for either a short amount of time or until the end of the 2012 year.  This has proved disheartening for flood insurance owners who have seen short term reauthorizations of the NFIP twelve times since September 30, 2008.

No matter what happens with flood insurance, a decision has to be made at some point. And affected homeowners are hoping for a resolution to this stress point sooner rather than later.

Everything’s Bigger in Texas: The Lone Star State and Its Weather Severity

Texas is in turmoil.  Everyone has seen in the news over the last several months the impact that raging wildfires have had on the state.  Homes have been lost, forests have been wiped out, and lives have been seriously derailed.  However, there are other meteorological developments in the state that may not immediately come to mind but have still made a huge impact—specifically, hail and windstorms.

Earlier this year, Fox News website www.myfoxdfw.com (the “dfw” stands for Dallas-Forth Worth) reported on a substantial hail beating that hit the area, saying that, “storms began pounding North Texas, delivering large hail, high winds, and heavy rain.  Many areas reported hail as big as golf balls.  The storms also downed tree limbs and damaged property throughout North Texas.”

And this isn’t necessarily a new global warming-induced weather pattern.  In 2009, Insurance Journal published an article about a storm that incurred upwards of $160 million in insured losses.  “In all, more than 22,000 vehicles were damaged in the storm and nearly 15,000 homes received insured losses, according to the insurer trade group the Insurance Council of Texas.”  This particular storm pummeled Central Texas the hardest less than a year after a similar storm caused $50 million in insured losses.

 As a result of the severe weather Texas has experienced, some insurance agencies have shown a desire to raise homeowner’s insurance premiums—a decision “primarily driven by loss costs,” according to Insurance News Net.  While this isn’t exactly welcome news to Texas homeowners, it isn’t exactly a surprise, either.

Insurance News Net said that “severe weather is the reason Texas homeowners pay, on average, among the highest homeowners premiums in the United States.”  As well as the already noted wildfires, hail, and windstorms, the state can also be plagued by tornados and hurricanes, too.

In addition to the many weather-related losses for which they are at risk, homeowners in Texas do not look forward to paying more in insurance premiums.  “Bills introduced in both the Texas House and Senate this year would have required that insurance companies filing for new rates continue to use old ones until approval by the insurance commissioner,” said the Houston Chronicle’s website.  “The consumer advocacy group Texas Watch strongly backed the requirement for prior approval of rates.  Its director, Alex Winslow, says ‘the companies ought to have to justify their rates.’”

As it stands, homeowners feel that they’re paying too much for the various damages these storms send their way while insurance companies are struggling to cover insured losses resulting from these same storms.  No matter what the public opinion is of these imminent rate hikes, though, one thing is for certain: Texas is going to continue having enough extreme weather to rival the rest of the states in the U.S.

- Alexandra Prim, Copywriter

Have you had any exposure to property insurance claims in Texas? Tell us all about it in the comment section!