I Don't Like Ike

It's been nearly a decade since there were four named storms in the Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Mexico. Obviously, Gustav decided not to stop in, Hanna has a track commitment problem and Josephine seems content to wander in open water. It's Ike, the one with the explosive personality, we need to watch.

You are correct if you are thinking to yourself, "Hey, this is no weather blog." So, why am I pointing this out to you? Because you have homeowners insurance and every time a storm approaches I'll bet you calculate how much money you spent on premiums and even secretly revel in the fact that you should have protection in the event we get whacked by a category 4 hurricane that seems to know what a straight line looks like a whole lot better than his sister, Hanna.

Ok, so here's the legal part. As the insured person under the policy, you have some obligations you have to fulfill. First, READ the policy. Having litigated insurance matters now for nearly 10 years, I can tell you that people think the simple fact they own a policy means they have coverage for whatever may happen. WRONG. Insurance policies are full of limitations and exclusions that you need to be aware of. Also, pay attention to your deductible amount. I was horrified to see how high mine was. That's right, homeowners has a deductible and it's an amount of money way higher than the $500 deductible you probably have on your car insurance.

Second, keep your policy and insurance company contact information with you during a hurricane. Almost all policies require that your promptly notify the insurance company of any claim. What constitutes "promptly" is defined differently by different insurance policies, so check to make sure what your policy says. Your friends and neighbors may tell you one thing, but they may be insured by someone else and have different obligations.

Third, do whatever you can to minimize potential damage. I know this sounds obvious and basic, but you have a duty to mitigate your possible damages. You cannot, for instance, refuse to put up your hurricane shutters because you want the insurance company to pay to remodel your house. Put up the shutters if you have them. Bring in the plants and anything else that could be a projectile. Your chances of putting in a smooth-sailing claim will increase greatly.

Hopefully, all of this information is wasted space and the 2008 hurricane season will bypass us.