Hurricane Glossary

Hurricane Damage Attorneys in Orlando, Serving all of Florida

Here are a few key terms to help you better understand hurricanes, hurricane damage law, and hurricane insurance.

Act of God - An unpreventable accident or event that is the result of natural causes; for example, hurricanes, floods, or lightning

Appraisal - A survey by a claims representative or appraiser estimating the amount of damage to property and the cost to repair, or the determination of a total loss

Beneficiary – The person or party named by the owner of a life insurance policy to receive the policy benefit

Broad form insurance - Coverage for numerous perils (i.e. hurricane in addition to flood)

Catastrophic loss - Damage resulting from a catastrophe or disaster

Disaster - A natural or man-made event that negatively affects life, property, livelihood or industry often resulting in permanent changes to human societies, ecosystems and the environment

Direct incurred loss - The property loss in which the insured peril is the proximate cause of damage or destruction

Exclusions, homeowners insurance - Part of an insurance contract that excludes coverage of certain perils, persons, property or locations

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency - A former independent agency that became part of the new Department of Homeland Security in March 2003 - is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters

Floodplain - A land area adjacent to a river, stream, lake, estuary or other water body that is subject to flooding. These areas, if left undisturbed, act to store excess floodwater

Hurricane - A hurricane is a low pressure cyclonic storm system which forms over the oceans. It is caused by evaporated water which comes off of the ocean and becomes a storm. The Coriolis Effect causes the storms to spin, and a hurricane is declared when this spinning mass of storms attains a wind speed greater than 74mph

Hurricane local statement - A public release prepared by local National Weather Service offices in or near a threatened area giving specific details for its county/parish warning area on (1) weather conditions, (2) evacuation decisions made by local officials, and (3) other precautions necessary to protect life and property

Hurricane season - The portion of the year having a relatively high incidence of hurricanes. The hurricane season in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico runs from June 1 to November 30. The hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific basin runs from May 15 to November 30. The hurricane season in the Central Pacific basin runs from June 1 to November 30

Hurricane warning - A warning that sustained winds 64 kt (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.

Hurricane watch - An announcement for specific coastal areas that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours

“Loss of Use” insurance - Compensation for loss caused because the policyholder has lost the use of his property

Multi-peril insurance - Personal and business property insurance that combines in one policy several types of property insurance covering numerous perils

Natural and probable causes - Consequences from a given act that a reasonable person could foresee

NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program - The program of flood insurance coverage and floodplain management administered under the Act and applicable Federal regulations promulgated in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter B

Policy rider – An amendment to an insurance policy that becomes part of the insurance contract and either expands or limits the benefits payable under the contract
 
Replacement cost - The cost of replacing property without a reduction for depreciation. By this method of determining value, damages for a claim would be the amount needed to replace the property using new materials

Saffir-Simpson Scale - A 1-5 rating based on a hurricane’s present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale

Scheduled property - Listing specific personal property for a stated insured value. This is usually considered for valuable items that are subject to limited coverage

Sink hole - A sinkhole is a localized depression in the surface topography, usually caused by the collapse of a subterranean structure, such as a cave. Although rare, large sinkholes that develop suddenly in populated areas can lead to the collapse of buildings and other structures

Storm surge - A storm surge is an onshore rush of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically a tropical cyclone. Storm surge is caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean’s surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea level. Storm surges are particularly damaging when they occur at the time of high tide, combining the effects of the surge and the tide

Subsidence - Movement of the land on which property is situated. A structure built on a hillside may slide down the hill due to earth movement caused by heavy rains

Tenant’s insurance - Coverage for the contents of renter’s home or apartment and for liability. Tenant policies are similar to homeowners insurance, except that they do not cover the structure

Insurance policy language can be confusing. If you have any questions about your hurricane damage policy, please contact Michael D. Cerasa today. Se habla español.

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