Hurricane Season News

Forecaster AccuWeather Cuts 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

Private forecaster AccuWeather.com has cut its forecast for this year’s Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins June 1, to 10 named storms from the 12 it predicted in March. AccuWeather forecast six of the storms will be hurricanes, down from eight …

Florida Agents, Consumer Advocate: Low Insurance Rates Hurt Claims Ability

With the start of the hurricane season just a few weeks away, a leading Florida consumer advocate joined independent agents at a press conference today to warn that property insurance rates need to be raised if insurers are going to …

Florida Emergency Responders Urged to Think Local

Craig Fugate’s promotion to head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was celebrated this week by the first responders, community organizations and emergency management officials he formerly led in Florida. “Now that Craig is FEMA director, maybe he’ll be there …

Hurricane Center Chief Urges Preparation: Storms Don’t Care About Recession

Tropical storms are unpredictable, but as the National Hurricane Center’s director contemplates ways to improve forecasting errors and communicating with the public, he is confident he has an ally at the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA). Bill Read celebrated the …

Virginia Offers Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Week

The state is giving Virginia residents an incentive to prepare for hurricane season. Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins May 25 and runs through May 31. During the weeklong holiday, state and local sales taxes won’t be collected on …

Florida Emergency Officials Convene Hurricane Conference

Emergency management officials from across Florida are in Fort Lauderdale this week to prepare for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. Training workshops at the annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference began Sunday and continue through Friday. The newly named interim director of …

For Some in Florida, Hurricane Season Is Time to Party

When a hurricane approaches South Florida, Robin Sing-Cunningham makes sure she has plenty of ice, candles and a generator. Then there’s the gas-powered blender, storm-themed music (think ‘It’s Raining Men’ by the Weather Girls, ‘Riders on the Storm’ by the …

AIU Offers Hurricane Resources in 2 South Carolina Counties

Homeowners in the South Carolina counties of Charleston and Beaufort who purchase homeowners policies from AIU Holdings’ Private Client Group can now access the advanced disaster preparedness and post-hurricane resources of Private Client Group’s Hurricane Protection Unit. The unit assists …

Report Warns of Gaps in Louisiana Emergency Plans, Officials Skeptical

Hurricane season is just weeks away, but many south Louisiana parishes cannot show their disaster plans cover evacuation of at-risk populations such as the disabled, the homeless and the elderly, according to the Disaster Accountability Project, a student-led watchdog group. …

Alabama Testing Hurricane Communications

Alabama emergency officials this week will conduct a statewide test of hurricane communications equipment. Communications coordinator Chuck Murph will lead the week-long exercise from a site in Baldwin County. The training includes a scenario centering around a hurricane striking Alabama’s …