Preventing the Next Sandy

[realjd]

I doubt that a reputable insurance company would nitpick between whether the wind was over or under 74 mph (hurricane force).  For one thing, at any one location the wind profiles won't necessarily be known exactly.

At least in Florida, it absolutely matters. Our homowners insurance policies have different deductibles for hurricane claims and non-hurricane claims. It has nothing to do with whether the company is reputable or not for us.

[empirestate]

I doubt that a reputable insurance company would nitpick between whether the wind was over or under 74 mph (hurricane force).  For one thing, at any one location the wind profiles won't necessarily be known exactly.

At least in Florida, it absolutely matters. Our homowners insurance policies have different deductibles for hurricane claims and non-hurricane claims. It has nothing to do with whether the company is reputable or not for us.

I had one of the most reputable companies there for my auto insurance. Believe me, they will nitpick.

I'm betting there was global warming during the 1900 Galveston Hurricane   So tired of these unproven theories

All theories are unproven; they cannot be otherwise. There is no scientific way to tell us the sun will come up tomorrow, only that it has every prior day under the same circumstances. If it doesn't rise tomorrow, that theory will have been disproved, and will need modification.

[Beltway]

I'm in favor of not rebuilding these cities on barrier islands.  Barrier islands, by their very nature are vulnerable to storms and also have a nasty tendency to move over time (regardless of one's opinions on climate; their movement and vulnerability are geologic fact).

The issue in NJ is that there's so much revenue coming in from them, there's probably a good financial case to spending the rebuilding money now. Otherwise, the Jersey Shore withers and this state will be out at least tens of billions a year.

Same deal with the N.C. Outer Banks.  At least, the state claims that they generate far more tax revenue at all 3 levels of government, than it does in tax revenue to support them, including repairing storm damage.

[NJRoadfan]

I have heard the distinction between hurricane and tropical storm, and presumably post-tropical cyclone as well, makes a difference as far as some insurance policies go, but I really don't know the details.

Both NJ and NY's insurance regulatory bodies have ruled that Sandy was classed as post tropical when it hit and that hurricane deductibles on homeowner's policies do NOT apply.

[roadman65]

http://www.prisonplanet.com/

bahahahahahaha


"I don't wanna talk to a scientist, y'all mother fuckers lying and gettin me pissed" - Insane Clown Posse, Miracles

Another fine NE 2 post.

[Beltway]

I have heard the distinction between hurricane and tropical storm, and presumably post-tropical cyclone as well, makes a difference as far as some insurance policies go, but I really don't know the details.

Both NJ and NY's insurance regulatory bodies have ruled that Sandy was classed as post tropical when it hit and that hurricane deductibles on homeowner's policies do NOT apply.

Then they should be sued.  To say that a "post tropical cyclone" with Category 1 winds, is not functionally (to the homeowners) the same as a Category 1 hurricane, is illogical and is unfair to the policyholders.

[NJRoadfan]

Then they should be sued.  To say that a "post tropical cyclone" with Category 1 winds, is not functionally (to the homeowners) the same as a Category 1 hurricane, is illogical and is unfair to the policyholders.

We've had nor'easters (a form of extra tropical cyclone) here with tropical force and hurricane force winds in the past. So it is not out of the ordinary for it to occur here. The difference is the storm's power source. This storm was unique in that it transformed from tropical to extra tropical and actually strengthened in the process. Keep in mind that NWS didn't even issue hurricane wind advisories for the coast line (which confused many, NWS explained why), because it wasn't technically a hurricane.

[Beltway]

Then they should be sued.  To say that a "post tropical cyclone" with Category 1 winds, is not functionally (to the homeowners) the same as a Category 1 hurricane, is illogical and is unfair to the policyholders.

We've had nor'easters (a form of extra tropical cyclone) here with tropical force and hurricane force winds in the past. So it is not out of the ordinary for it to occur here. The difference is the storm's power source. This storm was unique in that it transformed from tropical to extra tropical and actually strengthened in the process. Keep in mind that NWS didn't even issue hurricane wind advisories for the coast line (which confused many, NWS explained why), because it wasn't technically a hurricane.

But it was a cyclone with sustained 80+ mph winds and a defined eye.  The effect at ground level to the human environment was the same as a hurricane, including the storm surge.

[MVHighways]

You know what? I have ZERO idea why they care about its TROPICAL status for insurance. Insure people if the winds and rain persist AFTER losing tropical characteristics!

Keep in mind that NWS didn't even issue hurricane wind advisories for the coast line (which confused many, NWS explained why), because it wasn't technically a hurricane.

They DID issue high wind warnings, which is the land equivalent for post-tropical advisories and "hurricane wind advisories" for post-tropicals. There are like a million of these advisories for the waters, though, like Small Craft Advisory, Gale Warning, Storm Warning, Hurricane Force Wind Warning for non-tropicals and the Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings for tropicals (the hurricane/t.s. warnings are issued for land too). If it continued as a hurricane they would probably issue tropical storm/hurricane warnings, which would replace everything else.

RECAP:

==WIND ALERTS USED FOR POST-TROPICALS==
LAND: HIGH WIND WARNING
WATER: STORM WARNING AND HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING

==ALL-AROUND ALERTS USED FOR TROPICALS==
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THOSE BETWEEN 39 AND 73 MPH
HURRICANE WARNING FOR 74+ MPH

The effect at ground level to the human environment was the same as a hurricane, including the storm surge.

Right

Oh, and land here includes both inland and coastline areas.

[Scott5114]

People bought insurance which includes coverage in the event of a hurricane. If it's not a hurricane, guess what? They don't have to pay out millions of dollars in claims.

This is how the insurance industry works.

[NJRoadfan]

People bought insurance which includes coverage in the event of a hurricane. If it's not a hurricane, guess what? They don't have to pay out millions of dollars in claims.

This is how the insurance industry works.

The insurance companies lost out on this storm. The difference is how the claim is paid out. If it was a hurricane, a "hurricane deductible" would have applied which is usually a percentage (1-5% is typical) of the property value. Since Sandy wasn't classed as such, the standard flat deductible for home wind/rain/fire damage claims (usually $500-1000) applied. The fact that Sandy wasn't a "hurricane" and NJ/NY/DE/MD/PA/CT/MA/RI/WV/VT ruled as such was a GOOD THING for home owners claiming damage on their insurance policies.