Hurricane season is upon us, and insurance adjusters are bracing themselves for the worst as they pore over 2008 forecasts. Colorado State University's (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project has upped its initial forecast for the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. The estimate now stands at 15 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four intense hurricanes. The probability for at least one major hurricane (Category 3 to 5) making landfall in the U.S. is set at nearly 70 percent, compared with an average of 52 percent over the past 100 years. The likelihood of an East Coast landfall, including the Florida peninsula, is 45 percent, while there is a 44 percent chance of a Gulf Coast landfall, including the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas.

The nation's desire to live near the water coupled with increased shore line development has meant that more people are affected when hurricanes hit. Given this data, insurance adjusters, particularly experienced national catastrophe adjusters, must be equipped to quickly respond to and serve those affected by national-level disasters. When a hurricane strikes, a third-party temporary housing company can make all the difference.

Critical core competencies for ensuring success when dealing with third-party housing providers generally fall into four categories: access and communications; local housing market expertise and inventories; partnership with insurance companies and vendors; and knowledge of the subtleties of different disasters.