It’s tornado season in Tennessee and for much of the rest of the USA. April, May and June are the most active months for tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. Tornadoes frequently occur in other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, and across Europe and Asia, but the United States has more tornadoes for its size than any other country.

The costliest U.S. tornado outbreaks in terms of insured losses were in the billions of dollars, with the top three occurring in just the past five years. According to the Insurance Information Institute and Property Claims Services:

• The tornadoes that hit Tuscaloosa and Hackenberg, Ala., April 22-28, 2011, caused $7.6 billion in insured losses and affected 13 states.
• On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, Mo., which at its peak was more than one mile wide with winds that registered at more than 200 mph. As the tornado traveled 22 miles across the state, it killed 158 people and injured more than one thousand more, according to a report from U.S. Tornadoes. The series of tornadoes that impacted 20 states resulted in $7.2 billion in insured losses.
• Tornadoes in Southeast Kansas and Missouri on May 2, 2013, affected residents in 18 states altogether, and created approximately $4 billion in insured losses.

The Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at the University of Alabama Culverthouse College of Commerce has partnered with the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, the Alabama Department of Insurance and Smart Home America to create the new “2016 Tornado Preparedness Guide & Insurance Tips,” which highlights some safety steps as well as the new technology available to provide some advance warning of these deadly weather events.

“Recent studies show that most people have short memories surrounding disasters,” said Lars Powell, director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research. “As unpleasant as it may be to remember a terrible storm, if we don’t keep the public’s attention, we will not be ready for the next event.”

Residents in tornado-prone areas should be familiar with the terminology that indicates how imminent a tornado may be:

• Tornado Watch conditions are favorable for tornadoes in the area.
• Tornado Warning issued from NOAA, thunderstorms with tornadoes are imminent or occurring.
• Provided it is safe to do so, residents should secure any items that could become projectiles such as umbrellas, outdoor furniture or trash cans; move vehicles inside a garage or carport; and check tie-downs for mobile homes before moving to a safe location.

If a warning siren sounds, immediately take shelter inside and stay away from windows.

• When it comes to tornado readiness, the new tornado guide offers several recommendations to keep residents safe when a tornado hits. People who get caught outside or in a mobile home should immediately seek shelter inside a solidly constructed structure or in the basement of a nearby building. If you can’t get to a building in time, lie down in a ditch or other low-lying area and cover your head with your arms.
• Unlike the movie “Twister,” drivers should not follow or try to outrun a tornado. If possible, drivers should seek shelter in a sturdy structure, but should not park under a highway overpass since it could collapse in the high winds.
• Residents inside a home or other building should go to an interior room in the basement. If there is no basement, go to an inside room, preferably one without windows such as an interior hallway, a closet or a bathroom on the lowest level possible.
• To protect against flying debris, use cushions, blankets, a mattress or other impermeable items as a cover.

Usually, severe weather-related events would be covered under a Homeowners’, Renters’ or Commercial insurance policy, but policyholders should understand what their coverage provides and what it does not.

• Creating a home inventory with photographs can be most valuable when it comes to reporting items lost in a tornado or other weather event. Many insurers have tools that can help capture a home’s contents before a loss occurs. At the very least, take photos of each room in the home, paying particular attention to antiques, works of art, collections of any sort, firearms, rare books, jewelry, furs and other items that would be difficult to replace in the event of a loss. Make sure to check with an insurance agent to ensure the items have the proper coverage and limits.
• Save the photos to the cloud or store them someplace where they can be easily accessed in the event the home is damaged or destroyed.

Each year the National Weather Service issues more than 1,000 watches and almost 30,000 severe storm warnings. NOAA has an early warning system that can predict whether or not there is a potential for tornadoes as far as eight days ahead of a weather event. In addition, municipalities can now provide residents with a weather warning about 14 minutes before a tornado occurs. There are also a number of vendors that provide services which allow insurers to warn policyholders when a severe weather event is imminent in their area.

Social media can also be used effectively to educate and warn policyholders when storms, tornadoes and other events pose a risk.

Tornadoes cause widespread devastation over a large area as the infrastructure and other resources are destroyed and place burdens on first responders, residents, insurers, suppliers and others.

Here are some tips to begin the recovery process after a tornado event:

• Policyholders should contact their insurance agents or other company representatives to report any damage. An agent should be able to provide information on additional living expenses that will be reimbursed and other payment information.
• Take photos of the damage and begin creating an inventory of what was lost or damaged. (This is where a home inventory can be particularly helpful.)
• Secure the property against further damage and theft, as best as possible.
• Keep a log of conversations with individuals involved with the claim. Save receipts for all expenses, such as food, clothing, lodging, medication, repairs.
• Business owners should keep records of any activities that have been affected by the tornado and extra expenses incurred. An agent can provide information on what is covered under business interruption coverage.
• Beware of fraudsters. Unfortunately, some individuals see disasters as an opportunity to take advantage of people who have already suffered tragic losses. Check out companies who solicit your business with the Better Business Bureau and other online rating services. Call previous customers to see if they were satisfied with the work performed. Don’t pay for everything up front and remember that if what the company promises sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

So far this year, U.S. Tornadoes says the United States has had the most active February since 1950, with multiple tornado events 36 reports from Feb. 15-16 and 79 from Feb. 23-24. Another 32 tornadoes were reported on March 30-April 1, and 41 were reported from April 26-27.

“Tornado preparedness saves lives,” said Jim Ridling, commissioner of insurance for the state of Alabama. “The time between detection and devastation can be very short, and public education is the best strategy to keep people safe during tornadoes.”

Our policies cover our insureds for tornado’s and straight-line winds – a real cause of claims in the last 2 years. If we can help you, please let us know. Contact any of our staff at 615.377.1212 or EMAIL us at info@BentonWhite.com … These steps we have outlined today are REAL STEPS that can help you if we have a tornado event in the Middle Tennessee area this season or other season’s to come.

[Portions of this blog article taken from a release on MAY 05, 2016 BY PATRICIA L. HARMAN with PROPERTYCASUALTY360.COM]