Insurance Council: Dolly a Reminder to Plan Ahead

NEWS RELEASE FROM INSURANCE COUNCIL OF TEXAS

            Hurricane forecasters say Tropical Storm Dolly should strengthen as it enters the Gulf of Mexico and her projected landfall is Texas. 

            "It is still too early to tell what the intensity of the storm will become or its landfall, but everyone along the Texas coastline should be preparing for a hurricane," said Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT).

            Tropical Storm Dolly is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico Monday afternoon.  When and if Dolly becomes a hurricane while in the gulf, Texas homeowners will no longer be able to purchase windstorm insurance for this storm.  A flood insurance policy takes affect 30 days after purchase.

            Homeowners can take several steps to prepare for a hurricane.  They include having emergency supplies on hand that includes extra water, food, medical supplies and transportation available, protecting their property and having an evacuation plan in place.  For more information on preparing for a hurricane, go to ICT's Web site for Before the Hurricane - Advice for Homeowners in both English and Spanish at http://www.insurancecouncil.org/consumertips.asp.

            Tropical Storm Dolly could become the first hurricane to strike the U.S. this year.  The storm's projected landfall is Thursday.  Only one hurricane, Humberto, made landfall in the U.S. last year, striking near High Island with 85 mile per hour winds and causing $30 million in damage. 

            The Insurance Council of Texas is the largest state insurance trade association in the country consisting of approximately 500 property and casualty insurers writing business in Texas.