Hurricane season has a way of creeping up on us. Even though hurricane winds and rain already have beset the southern United States, it is not too late for insurers to finetune advance disaster programs before the next bout of swirling winds turns up on the weather forecasters' radar screens. By the time the next hurricane hits and insurers try to implement the standard second step of a catastrophic recovery process, protecting property from further damage, they just might be out of luck in finding the restoration contractors that insureds need.

Insurers must be sure to remind insureds of their first duty to contain claims: giving prompt notice. Every minute that water is allowed to seep into the walls, ceilings, and floors of hurricane-ravaged buildings results in unnecessary downtime and business interruption. Those dollars can quickly add up, for insurers, as well as their clients.

Most hurricanes, of course, engender numerous types of loss. The most common are wind and flooding. Just about every hurricane property loss has an element of water damage, such as wind-driven rain and wind damage to roofs, which create openings for water penetration. Water losses can be the trickiest because there are many different kinds, and water damage can be so insidious that even Columbo would have problems determining whether the water-caused damages were covered.