Storms and the garden

Storms and the garden

Recent damage from Hurricane Idalia – which hit Florida’s Big Bend region and parts of Georgia on Aug. 30 – reminds us that we are only now at the high point of hurricane season, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Indeed, some of the worst storms to hit come in October as attested by Hurricane Michael, the last Category 5 hurricane to hit the United States, flattening parts of the Florida panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018; and Superstorm Sandy, which dealt a devastating blow to the New York metro area Oct. 29, 2012.

As of this writing, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring six storms that could form a tropical wave headed to Florida. Now is neither the time to be complacent nor to panic but rather to be forewarned, and thus forearmed, by staying abreast of the news and storm tracks. As you work through your September garden chores, double-check trees for any dead branches. Start cleaning and putting away garden furniture you no longer need. There will be less to store in the event that a storm moves quickly up the East Coast.

You should always have a supply of bottled water and batteries on hand and keep your car either charged or filled with gas. Keep an emergency supplies bag handy and have an evacuation plan for you and your family.

Equally important, know what your homeowners’ insurance policy covers. If your neighbor’s tree falls in your yard during a storm, it is your responsibility to remove it. This should be covered under your policy. (An exception would be if your neighbor had been negligent in removing a diseased or dead tree or was taking down a tree without proper expertise. Then your neighbor would be responsible.) Be sure to document everything with photographs.

Flooding is a whole other issue.  Most insurance policies do not cover it, and the cost is exorbitant. But then, so is flooding, estimated to cost up to $25,000 for an inch of water, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA also notes that homes and businesses in flood zones that have mortgages from government-backed lenders must have flood insurance. The FEMA-managed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is available in almost 23,000 communities through a network of more than 50 insurance programs.