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It's only early July, and already, the possibility of a major storm in the Atlantic Ocean making landfall is starting to grab headlines. As such, many insurance companies have begun to warn policyholders about the potential risks that these severe weather patterns can create, - and it's therefore a good idea for all agents to do the same, especially if they have clients along the Eastern Seaboard in particular.

Tropical Storm Arthur was the first major storm to form in the Atlantic in this hurricane season, and it threatened to wreak havoc on many Americans' Fourth of July long weekends, according to a report from the York Herald Online. With winds in excess of 75 miles per hour, this storm brought with it the potential for major insurance claims that will have to be handled expediently by insurers.

""Claims reported by our customers will be assessed quickly to assure fast and quality service,"" said Ken Enscoe, senior director of catastrophe operations at a top insurance company, told the newspaper. ""It's important for us to prepare early and be ready to act quickly for our customers. It's crucial for policyholders to know about their insurance coverage before a storm hits. Advance planning is key to surviving the aftermath of a hurricane.""

What should consumers do?
Because this is just the start of hurricane season - major storms are named alphabetically, so Arthur is the first of what could be several major events - it's important for consumers to make sure they've carefully reviewed their home insurance policies to help ensure they're adequately protected from an incident of this type, the report said. That should include working with their insurers to ensure they know what they're covered for, and what they're not. Fortunately, most predictions show that very few, if any, storms will rise to hurricane strength in the coming months.

Insurance agents who do the best job of reaching out to consumers at times like these might find that they're not only helping to adequately prepare clients for potential issues, but also improve their working relationships with those customers. As a result, they may be far more likely to increase overall satisfaction and also help ensure that clients won't start shopping around for new coverage.

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