Severe thunderstorms threatening high-speed winds, large hail and even tornadoes have insurance companies in the Midwest playing offense this week.
Parts of the Great Plains and the South are in the path of the storm system, which could also include heavy rainfall and flash flooding, meteorologists say.
The weather pattern is the result of a combination of strong jet stream winds, surface low pressure tracking from the Plains into the Great Lakes, and moisture heading north from the Gulf of Mexico. It is a classic springtime setup for the region, though the magnitude of the severe weather threat is still “somewhat uncertain,” according to a Weather.com report.
Insurance carriers in the region are now reaching out to policyholders in order to maximize preparation for the storm.
Des Moines, Iowa-based Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Co. released a series of safety tips through their website, including:
- DON’T be the highest point in the case of lightning. If you’re in an open field, find a low spot away from potential conductors like trees, fences, and poles. If you feel your skin tingling or your hair starts to stand on end, the atmosphere is charged with electricity. Crouch down low, minimizing your contact with the ground, and place your hands on your knees with your head between them.
- DO stay in your vehicle in a thunderstorm. Unlike a situation with a tornado, a truck or tractor can provide better protection that lying exposed in a field.
- DON’T attempt to drive through water over the road. You have no idea how deep it may be, and it only takes 6 inches of water to sweep a vehicle away.
- DO avoid low-lying areas in your fields or on your property. During a torrential downpour, all that water has to go somewhere. You don’t want to be there when it arrives.
- DO have an evacuation plan in place for your livestock, should you need to move them to higher ground.
The company urged customers to observe watches and warnings in the area and to check with their insurance agent to ensure all the proper coverage is in place.
