El Niño gets a lot of publicity in relation to major storms, such as Hurricane Patricia or severe blizzards, but it can have an impact on day-to-day weather as well, explains Elaine Montgomery-Baisden, vice president and chief underwriting officer, Personal Insurance, for Travelers.

What is “El Niño”? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines it as a weather pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. El Niño is credited (or blamed) for increased rainfall across the southern tier of the U.S., which has caused destructive flooding, and for drought in the West Pacific.

Jim Gustin, property technical director for Travelers Risk Control Department, who is a civil engineer by education and fire protection engineer by craft, says that from a risk-control standpoint, all of the predictions about El Niño lasting into the spring of 2016 give insurance agents the opportunity to talk to clients about storm preparations and property coverage.

Flood risk assessment

Agents should do a full review of their customers' deductibles. If clients live close to water—the ocean, a lake, a river or other low-lying areas—do they have flood insurance? Damage from flooding isn't covered under the standard Homeowners' policy. Also, what kind of coverage do they have for contents, which a flood policy limits? Gustin recommends that agents ask their clients:

Would your sump pump operate, if you lost power?
Does the property have an emergency generator to supply power to the sump pumps to prevent flooding if the power goes out?
Does the area have back pump preventers installed on sewer drains to prevent debris from coming back up to the building?

El Niño could delay the start of winter but make it last longer, Montgomery-Baisden says. Local ordinances may require property owners to keep public sidewalks and driveways clear of ice or snow. Clients also should note whether those surfaces are deteriorating because of heavy rain, flooding, ice and snow so they can be repaired before winter sets in.

Roof inspections

Gustin recommends asking insureds to trim trees and remove dead branches, making sure that those that can fall due to wind, ice or snow are trimmed away from the facility. Have clients “check the flashing on the roof to make sure that it's in good condition,” he says, “and that it's sealed down to help prevent water penetration. It also prevents wind damage to the roof covering.”

Whether a building has gutters and downspouts or center roof drains, make sure those are clear to prevent roof overloading, which can lead to a roof collapse. When those drain, “Does the land slope away from the building? If you do get more rain in a shorter period of time than the typical storm, will it flow away from the building, not into a crawl space or basement?”

For commercial clients, Gustin recommends roof inspections on a monthly basis as a best practice. “You can get storms, dirt and debris, you may get wind, and you also get contractors on the roof servicing HVAC equipment, for example. Have they left anything behind?” he asks. “Have they caused any damage that needs to be repaired?”

Emergency planning

Agents can also take the opportunity to discuss emergency planning, reminding homeowners that such plans aren't just for businesses. “You should know how to reach all family members,” Montgomery-Baisden advises, “and have a meeting place picked out.” She also reminds people to think about how they would get pets, the elderly or disabled family members to safety, especially if they have to evacuate out a second-story window.

Gustin notes that a difficult group of clients for many agents to reach are small to mid-size businesses because they don't have as many employees or staff. They are also less likely to have written business continuity plans or recovery plans. Therefore, when they're faced with a weather emergency, they're typically more likely to not reopen.

Special Reports /

Winter Storm Prep for Property Owners

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