If you own a home in Florida, you know how difficult it can be to get homeowners insurance. Several insurance companies have stopped issuing policies in Florida, citing the high costs of paying out hurricane-related claims. Unfortunately, certain bad-faith insurance practices can prevent hurricane victims from receiving the compensation they are rightfully owed.
Hurricanes pose a danger to both human life and safety, in addition to the financial losses they incur. When a storm is approaching, you should pay attention to the category the National Hurricane Center has assigned to it and respond appropriately. Keep reading to learn more.
Category 1
Category 1 is the weakest type of hurricane. These storms have sustained wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph. At these wind speeds, all kinds of debris and small objects get thrown around by the storm. This may cause power outages or broken windows, but as long as you don’t leave your home, your risk of injury should be low.
Category 2
Storms in this category may generate winds of up to 110 miles per hour. This is strong enough to break power poles and rip road signs out of the ground. If you remain inside and stay away from windows, you should stay safe, as long as you live inland. However, you will likely lose power at some point, and it may not be restored for several days.
Category 3
Once a hurricane reaches Category 3, it is likely to do significant damage to buildings. Smaller structures like sheds, detached garages, and mobile homes may be destroyed. If you live in a mobile home, consider relocating to a different area. You should also evacuate if anyone in your home has limited mobility or medical issues.
When evacuating, it is best to leave as soon as possible. Highways tend to get crowded as the storm nears. The last thing you need is to get into a car accident while fleeing a hurricane.
Category 4
Unless you work in a critical emergency services profession, you should evacuate as soon as possible for a Category 4 or higher storm. These hurricanes are characterized by winds of up to 156 mph that can tear through almost any material. They are also powerful enough to toss around small and mid-size vehicles.
If you choose not to flee and you are injured, a lawyer may not be able to help you get compensation. Typically, personal injury lawyers refuse to take cases where potential clients were aware of a danger and didn’t take reasonable precautions to avoid it.
Category 5
Category 5 hurricanes are the most powerful. There is no upper limit to the wind speeds of these storms. The strongest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history was Hurricane Allen in 1980. This storm had wind speeds that reached 190 miles per hour.
The aftereffects of Category 5 hurricanes are devastating. Large swaths of land are obliterated. Few buildings remain, and many that do are mere shells of their former selves. Personal belongings are gone forever. Most flora and fauna cannot survive this type of storm unprotected.
There are only two choices if a storm this powerful is approaching. Your best option is to evacuate as soon as possible, taking your belongings with you. If that is impossible, contact the government to determine the location of the nearest storm shelter and hunker down with a sufficient supply of food and water.
Contact Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers For A Free Consultation With A Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer
After a hurricane, life can become complicated quickly — not just due to property damage, but also injuries, unsafe conditions, car crashes during evacuations, and other unexpected issues. If you were hurt or suffered losses because someone else failed to act responsibly, Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you understand your options.
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra personal injury law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County, St. Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W Forsyth St Suite 1000,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167
