Today, November 30th, is the official "last day" of the 2015 Hurricane Season. Though it sometimes happens, it is very unlikely that a storm will form now. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are just too cool. And warm water is what powers these massive storms.We did not even get a decent tropical storm this year that affected our area. Earlier in the summer we did have an abundance of rain, but not from any hurricanes or other major storms.
Often people call me looking to buy a home and they want it near the gulf beaches. I work in an area that is about 30 miles inland and just north of Tampa. I try to explain the safety aspects of being inland, but sometimes, buyers are more compelled by the gulf shores. Even though we did not have a hurricane near us this year, the heavy rains created havoc in many gulf-side homes and flooded many areas over there. Not much of a problem over here unless you by in a valley or known flood zone. Since the risk is greater on the coast, so are insurance rates! And they have gone up a lot in recent years.
Speaking of insurance, I always recommend that once the official storm season is over here in the Sunshine State, it might be a good time to check out what other insurance companies are charging for the same coverage you currently have. Now that the 2016 hurricane season is many months off, and the risk of damage is less, it might be possible to find better rates. In any case, it costs you nothing to shop around and you might save a few hundred bucks and get better coverage. What do you have to lose by asking? Do some comparison shopping while you are down here.
Much of my storm information comes from the National Hurricane Center. They follow tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes from birth to death. It can be a useful site to visit. If you would like to try it out, click on the following link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov I suggest that you "bookmark it" or "make it a Favorite" for future reference if you live in an area that can be affected by tropical storms or hurricanes during future hurricane seasons. You will find it interesting and helpful to track the path of each storm in years to come.
I also invite you to visit my webpage at: http://www.jelwell.century21bnr.com/ where you will find links to many interesting sites dealing with real estate. You are always welcome there.
I can also be contacted via e-mail at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com or by phone at: 813-783-4444 JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. in Zephyrhills, Florida. It would be a pleasure to assist you in buying and/or selling property in the eastern half of Pasco County, including Zephyrhills and Dade City. Licensed in Florida.
Images from NOAA & FEMA
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