Prepare now for Hurricane Season

With several weeks remaining before the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, set to begin on June 1, Tammara Glaves-Hucey, Managing Director of GK General Insurance and Key Insurance, is urging households, motorists, farmers and business owners to move hurricane preparedness to immediate action.

Her call came during National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3-9), a global observance which encourages those living in hurricane-prone areas to understand their risks, begin pre-season preparations ahead of the season, ensure they have multiple ways to receive forecasts and alerts, and know what to do before, during and after a storm.

With a slightly below-average Atlantic Hurricane Season currently being forecast, Glaves-Hucey urged that this should not create a false sense of comfort, as any hurricane is dangerous enough to demand serious planning. This, she explained, should resonate strongly in Jamaica, particularly after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage across the island last year. “A forecast does not have to be extreme for a family to lose their roof, a farmer to lose their entire crop, a shopkeeper to lose their stock, or a business to lose weeks of income. One storm can change everything,” explained Glaves-Hucey.

She said preparation must include physical and financial readiness.

“Too often, people think hurricane preparation begins with buying plyboard, water and batteries. Those are important, but preparation also means asking hard financial questions. Is my home insured for the cost to rebuild today? Are my contents covered? Is my business stock protected? Do I understand my catastrophe excess or deductible? Have I documented what I own? Have I spoken with my broker or insurer before the season begins?” she said.

She urged homeowners and business owners to review their preparedness now, not after a storm watch is issued, noting that they should check whether their sums insured reflect current replacement values, especially given increasing construction and repair costs. They should also confirm whether their insurance policies cover all buildings, contents, alternative accommodation, hurricane damage, flood exposure and other relevant risks.

“This is also applicable to homeowners with a mortgage. It is important to note that the mortgagee, in most cases, only insures their financial interests in the property, that is, the value of the mortgage, which is the loan amount. This amount may be lower than the replacement value for your home, which results in the ‘application of average’ to any potential claim settlement. The application of average will reduce the settlement amount and ultimately the funds you will have available to get you back to the position you were in before the loss,” shared Glaves-Hucey.

For businesses, Glaves-Hucey said the season should trigger an immediate review of business continuity plans, commercial insurance policies, equipment schedules, fleet coverage, inventory records and backup arrangements.

“A business should not only insure the building and ignore the things that allow it to operate,” she said. “A storm can damage stock, disrupt power, interrupt suppliers, affect staff, close roads, compromise data and halt cash flow. Preparedness means knowing how the business will function if the physical location cannot open for a few days or even a few weeks.”

She added that small and medium-sized businesses are often the most vulnerable because many operate with tight margins and limited cash reserves.

“Business owners should walk through the property with fresh eyes. Look at roofs, drains, shutters, signage, perimeter fencing, storage areas, server rooms, generators and fuel arrangements. Move critical documents and stock away from flood-prone areas. Back up data. Update staff contact lists. Know who is responsible for shutting down operations, securing assets, contacting customers and starting the claims process if damage occurs,” she said.

“This is the time to check, confirm, document, secure and prepare,” she said. “We cannot stop a hurricane, but we can reduce confusion, speed up recovery and protect what we have worked hard to build.”

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane season runs from Monday, June 1, to Monday, November 30.