Hurricane Michael was the next most effective storm to hit the U.S. The storm quickly escalated to a category 4 hurricane, making it the worst in almost a century. National Geographic reports, Michael had the three most critical characteristics for a hurricane to achieve strength and make a big impact. Those include, warm waters, low wind shear (a change in wind speed or direction inside a short distance) along with a tight core, keeping the storm intact.
“In a length of Two days we watched tropical storm grow to a worst-case scenario,” recounts Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of Insurance, Florida's largest independent home insurance company.
While it's been a week since Michael made landfall, the outcome am devastating, crews continue to be searching for survivors within the hardest hit areas. Hundreds remain in shelters and over 100,000 are still without power. Many are determined by water and food being air dropped for their areas. Bay county schools are closed indefinitely for more than 26,000 students. Mobile phone service is spotty, and it is difficult to fill a gas tank. To support victims, Verizon announced it might give a three-month credit to every Verizon customer in Bay and Gulf counties.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has built an internet site, floridadisaster.org, for storm victims, as an information hub. The website includes a listing of open shelters, instructions on how to make an application for disaster assistance, emergency supply distribution locations, updated curfews for every county, family reunification, boil water notices, debris reporting, insurance resources, available gasoline stations, power outage details, school closures, traffic, weather, a list of open camping areas, rumor control and more.
“At Insurance, we are making every effort to supply our customers having a quick response so they can piece their lives back together,” says Ellsworth Buck Vice President of Insurance, Florida's top independent home insurance company.
Gov. Rick Scott, issued an urgent situation order that ensures additional protections to Florida insurance plan holders. According to the Insurance Journal, the order requires that insurers carry out the following.
- Freeze any rate hikes for 90 days.
- Provide one more 3 months to policyholders to provide required information for their insurance company.
- Rescind for 90 days, all non-renewals or cancellations issued to policyholders in the days leading up to Hurricane Michael. This provides policyholders 90 days either to renew their insurance policy or get a new insurance plan.
For those interested in helping financially, Charity Navigator has highly regarded the next charities. They will help by giving food, shelter, health care and other necessities to victims of the storm.
Team Rubicon, https://teamrubiconusa.org
Samaritan's Purse, https://www.samaritanspurse.org
All Hands and Hearts- Smart Response, https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/programs/hurricane-michael-relief/
Direct Relief, https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-michael/
Many good Samaritans have packed up trucks with food and supplies in the future and aid storm victims utilizing their own resources.
