The Times and Democrat - THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL

THE ISSUE: Hurricane preparedness

OUR OPINION: South Carolinians better prepared, but much more can be done

The weeks and days that South Carolina generally is the most vulnerable to hurricanes are approaching. The good news is the state has been praised for its preparation, from new equipment and better response to evacuation and shelter plans.

It’s been nearly 17 years since a major hurricane struck South Carolina in the form of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Many remember the destruction. Many don’t. Yet seeing the damage and devastation from Hurricane Katrina a year ago has made people more aware of what could happen here.

South Carolinians are being praised for individual preparation as well. The most recent Hurricane Readiness Index, a survey sponsored by seven major insurance companies, found insured homeowners in the Palmetto State have taken between 53-58 percent of the steps to prepare their homes and property to recover from a major hurricane.

The numbers mean homeowners on the South Carolina coast are more prepared on average than those in the Gulf and Atlantic states, whose overall index rating from Texas to Maine was 48 percent.

“Homeowners along the Southeast coast, who are more experienced with hurricane damage and preparedness, lead the nation in personal readiness, but there are still steps that need to be taken,” said Dr. Bob Sheets, former director of the National Hurricane Center. “It’s good news that people there have taken a range of steps to get ready, but every coastal resident in the region should also consider what else needs to be done before they’re fully prepared.”

For coastal South Carolina, residents were 11 percent more likely to have a personal disaster evacuation plan or kit than homeowners on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In other categories, the results were closer:

n Reviewed homeowners insurance policies within the past 12 months …#8220; 68 percent here and 69 percent elsewhere.

n Updated homeowners insurance policy in the past five years …#8220; 72 percent to 69 percent.

n Made an inventory of their personal possessions …#8220; 38 percent to 37 percent.

n Made improvements to their home to prepare for a hurricane …#8220; 32 percent to 27 percent.

n Feel they have the right amount of insurance coverage …#8220; 54 to 48.

n Stored important documents in a safe place …#8220; 39 to 38.

One important aspect of protection for which homeowners in nearly every region seem unprepared pertains to flood insurance. In the counties labeled “Coastal South Carolina” …#8220; Dorchester, Colleton, Berkeley, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Charleston, Horry and Marion …#8220; only 24 percent have a separate insurance policy for flooding. The number elsewhere is 23 percent.

On a positive note, the flood insurance total for Coastal Georgia/South Carolina, an area that includes Beaufort and Jasper counties, has a 52 percent total for flood insurance.

The survey found it is not lack of knowledge that keeps homeowners from getting flood insurance, as 70 percent are aware their present policies don’t cover flooding. As noted, “This discrepancy indicates that more South Carolinians should consider flood insurance.”

And considering that this year’s Atlantic season is predicted to be more active than the past, the time to act on flood insurance and other measures would be now. The clock is ticking.

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