Hurricane Season 2019: Increased Activity in the Cards

Colorado State University has increased its hurricane forecast from 13 to 14 storms in its latest projections for the 2019 hurricane season that began on June 1. In its latest forecast, the University has included sub-tropical storm Andrea that had formed off the Atlantic coast prior to the start of the season.

The forecast pegs the probability of at least one major hurricane to make landfall along the continental U.S. coastline at 54%, slightly higher than the historical average of 52%.

“As is the case with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them,’’ Phil Klotzbach, the forecast’s lead author told Bloomberg. “They should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted.’’

Klozbach also pointed out that the forecast this year was tricky because the models were mixed on "whether an El Nino across the equatorial Pacific will last into late August and September."

According to the report, six of the 14 named storms were likely to be hurricanes with two major systems that would carry winds of 11 miles per hour.

Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricanes can cause much damage to life and property. In 2017,  Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma together caused damage worth $265 billion according to data from the National Hurricane Center cited by Bloomberg, making it the costliest hurricane season in recent times.

In fact, the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to pass H.R.2940, which provides $19.1 billion in recovery funds for disaster-affected areas including Puerto Rico. The House passed the bill after a 10-day recess, voting 354-58. As the Senate had already voted to pass the bill 85-8 on May 23, the bill will now move on to President Donald Trump for his sign-off.

"We must work together quickly to pass a bill that addresses the surge of unaccompanied children crossing the border and provides law enforcement agencies with the funding they need," said top Appropriations Committee Republican Kay Granger of Texas on Fox News. "The stakes are high. There are serious—life or death—repercussions if the Congress does not act."

According to the Texas Tribune, Texas has already received billions of dollars for Harvey recovery, but each bucket of money is designated for a specific purpose. The $4.3 billion that Congress approved for Texas last February is part of a HUD grant program designed "to help cities, counties, and States recover from Presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas."

The Five Star Institute will host its Disaster Preparedness Symposium on July 31 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Natural disasters impact investors, service providers, mortgage servicers, government agencies, legal professionals, lenders, property preservation companies, and—most importantly—homeowners. The 2019 Five Star Disaster Preparedness Symposium will include critical conversations on the response, reaction, and assistance, to ensure the industry is ready to lend the proper support the next time a natural disaster strikes.