Isaac, a major tropical storm, is sweeping across the Caribbean on a north-westerly path. It may be upgraded to a hurricane but even as a tropical storm, Isaac can cause serious damage.
Preparedness: Use the time before the storm hits
The course of Isaac is currently pointing towards large parts of Florida and the southern United States. The biggest threats is the expected heavy rains and associated flooding forecasted for the island of Hispaniola where Haiti and the Dominican Republic are loated. A tropical storm warning has arleady been issued for those countries.
"We are in the middle of hurricane season right now, which lasts approximately from June until November," says Dr. Markus Stowasser from Allianz Reinsurance. "Based on the period 1981-2010, an average season produces 12 named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.Whether the storms will hit land cannot be predicted very well – that’s why some seasons see a lot of damage, while others do not.
"You can tell by the name of a storm how many tropical storms have already happened in a given season. The name Isaac begins with a letter “I”, that means that nine storms already preceded it this year. None of these were very severe. So far, experts remain hopeful that Isaac will not turn into a full-fledged hurricane or will change its path clear of land.
"From a meteorological point of view there is a large uncertainty in the forecasts after day 3. So for the exact landfall position and strength there is little else that can be done other than wait and see," Stowasser adds.
Tropical storms or hurricanes have one advantage over natural catastrophes like earthquakes or flash floods: while they brew over the ocean, people on land usually have a number of days to get prepared for the worst.
What matters most for people in the region is what they do before the storm hits. Allianz supports both private individuals and businesses in the region, and it offers them important tips on what to do in advance. Clients are contacted via app or mobile messages, the telephone or information campaigns.
Lessons Learnt
The largest hurricane losses in history were registered in 2005, when Katrina, Rita and Wilma hit the United States. Looking back, Allianz has learned a lot from those events, as the article "Hurricanes: 5 years after Katrina" from 2010 explains.
Over the years, Allianz has accumulated significant expertise in all manner of wind storms, especially hurricanes. They are the most powerful regularly recurring natural disaster on earth, and they cause major property damage every year. As property values increase, so will economic losses from hurricanes.
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