from CoreLogic
As the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season rolls in, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has projected a total of 13-20 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 major hurricanes, defined as Category 3 and higher. In 2020, the United States was the ultimate destination for a record high of 30 named storms over the course of the hurricane season, which battered the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Three of these storms hit the Louisiana coast back-to-back and hurricanes Laura and Delta made landfall just 15 miles apart in less than six weeks.
The Southwest Louisiana community was devastated. Homes were reduced to slabs. Roofs were missing. And the heat that set in shortly after the storm dissipated meant many homes, rife with water damage, grew mold. This crisis highlighted an important distinction: while hurricanes are devastating for any community, the effects of disasters can be exponentially worse for lower-income areas. In understanding hurricane risk exposure, both today and in the future, financial devastation for insurers, homeowners, and communities can be prevented.