Anyone who doubts how big a risk Long Island and New York City might face should a major hurricane hit the vulnerable region need only examine the extensive damage done when the relatively mild Ernesto hit this past weekend.

There were trees and tree limbs down everywhere. Shingles were torn from homes and windows were shattered across the island. Power lines were downwith some 40,000 people estimated to have lost their electricity. There was serious beach erosion in spots.

And Ernesto was just a tropical storm, with winds in this neck of the woods topping out at 55 miles-per-hour. Imagine if it had been 100! Or 125!

Yet is doesnt appear that folks in the New York area are taking the exposure very seriously. Many still reportedly lack federal flood insurance, when they are living on an island! And as for risk management, I cant imagine how an evacuation would be pulled off, given the routine traffic congestions paralyzing the area.

Of course, New York City isnt alone in this regard. In fact, much of the countrys homeowners remain inexplicably oblivious about this looming exposure, despite all the publicity following Hurricane Katrina. (Click here to check out our Web story, One-In-Four Homeowners Clueless About Flood Coverage.)

Why is it that after all this time, so many homeowners are in the dark about flood exposures? Are they in denial? Are their carriers and agents failing to keep them properly informed? What else can the government and industry do to alleviate this problem?

Im eager to hear your thoughts.

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