(The Center Square) – Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is urging residents to review their insurance coverage and prepare their homes as Tropical Depression Two, which is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha, moves toward the northern Gulf Coast.
Forecasters expect the system to gradually organize before tracking westward along the Gulf Coast, bringing the potential for heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding to southeastern Louisiana beginning Wednesday. While the storm is not expected to significantly affect the state through Tuesday, the National Weather Service says the greatest impacts are expected Wednesday into early Thursday.
“Regardless of how this storm develops, Louisianans should continue to monitor the weather and take steps to be insurance ready,” Temple said Monday.
He urged residents to trim trees, clear gutters and storm drains, secure outdoor furniture and review emergency plans before conditions deteriorate.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance also recommends reviewing homeowners and flood insurance policies before the storm arrives, particularly deductible amounts. Named storm or hurricane deductibles typically range from 2% to 5% of a home’s insured value. For example, a homeowner with a $200,000 insured home and a 3% hurricane deductible would pay the first $6,000 of covered damage before insurance benefits begin.
The National Weather Service has issued Tropical Storm and Storm Surge watches for portions of Louisiana’s immediate coast east of the mouth of the Mississippi River, including eastern Orleans Parish. Forecasters caution that watches could be expanded as the forecast evolves.
Forecasts call for sustained winds near 50 mph at peak intensity, with tropical-storm-force wind probabilities of 40% to 50% across southern Plaquemines Parish and lower chances elsewhere in southeast Louisiana. Gusts could down tree limbs, damage awnings and produce isolated power outages.
Storm surge remains one of the primary concerns along the coast. The National Weather Service forecasts 2 to 4 feet of inundation above ground level east of the Mississippi River and 1 to 3 feet elsewhere along the Louisiana coast, potentially flooding low-lying roads, damaging marinas and causing moderate beach erosion.
Rainfall forecasts remain highly dependent on the storm’s eventual track. Most areas north of the Interstate 10/12 corridor are expected to receive less than an inch of rain, while Louisiana’s immediate southeast coast could receive 2 to 5 inches, with isolated flooding possible where heavier rain bands develop. Forecasters noted the storm is expected to be lopsided, with most of its rain and strongest winds remaining south of the center over the Gulf.
The weather service also warned residents not to overlook another hazard: extreme heat. Heat index values between 107 and 111 degrees are expected Monday and Tuesday, and dangerous heat could continue into midweek if cloud cover and rainfall remain limited north of the storm’s center.
Insurance officials recommend documenting homes and belongings with photos or video before the storm arrives, keeping insurance policies and agent contact information readily available in case evacuation becomes necessary and saving receipts for temporary repairs should damage occur.
If damage occurs, residents should contact their insurance company immediately, photograph property before cleanup begins and take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage, such as covering damaged roofs with tarps or boarding broken windows.
The National Weather Service said confidence is moderate that southeastern Louisiana will experience tropical-storm-force wind gusts, minor to moderate coastal flooding, isolated flooding from heavy rainfall and dangerous marine conditions during the middle of the week, while the tornado threat currently remains low.
