As of August 28, Hurricane Dorian has been forecast to be a Category 4 hurricane and chances have increased for a direct hit over Labor Day weekend along the coast of Central Florida, causing storm preparations to get off to a frenzied start.

The National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) forecast track map showed Dorian making a direct landfall over Volusia and Brevard Counties on September 2 with winds of more than 110 mph, storm surge, high tides and torrential rainfall.

Dorian became a tropical storm on August 24 and strengthened to hurricane status on August 28 near St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Nearly the entire eastern coastline of Florida and the Georgia coastal area are within the potential path of the storm. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a statewide state of emergency.

According to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University and Insurance Information Institute non-resident scholar, Hurricane Dorian has now generated more Accumulated Cyclone Energy than the other four named storms of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season combined. Andrea, Chantal and Erin were very weak, and while Barry became a hurricane, it was relatively short-lived.

Dr. Klotzbach has been tracking Dorian and provided a video update yesterday on its progress.

The I.I.I. offers the following guidance to those who live and work along the east coast of Florida and Georgia:

• Write down the name and phone number of your insurer and insurance professional and keep this information either in your wallet or purse;
• Purchase emergency supplies, such as batteries and flashlights;
• Secure drinking water and non-perishable food; both are essential for all household members in case of prolonged power outages. It is recommended you have one gallon of drinking water per person per day, for up to seven days;
• Prepare your yard by removing all outdoor furniture, lawn items, planters and other materials that could be picked up by high winds;
• Fill your car’s gasoline tank because long gas lines and fuel shortages often follow a major weather event;
• Review your evacuation plan and if you have a pet, your pet’s evacuation plan;
• Conduct a home inventory; there are many mobile app options which can help you create and store a room-by-room record of your belongings.