Deployments Initiated - Hurricane Ian

With the track moving towards Tampa, we have started deploying desk adjusters and field adjusters as of this morning.  As we "Lead the Way" with our pre-staging/deployment activity, we are prepared and ready for additional deployments as the storm approaches.  We will continue getting our adjuster deployed and our desk adjusters set-up throughout the week.  

Our field adjusters will be on location outside of Tampa on October 2, 2022 and our desk adjusters will be setting up tomorrow for FNOL and other services.     

Quick Summary of IAN:  (Thanks  Sam!)  

Hurricane Ian has strengthened throughout the day today and is now a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 MPH as it moves north northwest at 13 MPH. Ian is 150 miles southeast of the western tip of Cuba and now is expected to cross over Cuba early tomorrow as a category 3 major hurricane and continue to intensify in the Gulf of Mexico, potential to a category 4, as it continues its turn to the north and eventually northeast.
 
Ian is expected to stall off the coast of west central Florida on Wednesday, which will increase the potential for surge loss along the coast. After this stall it is expected to weaken before approaching landfall in Florida north of Tampa as a likely category 2 hurricane. There is still potential that Ian stays on a more northerly track and skirts the coast and makes eventual landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida or on the panhandle, however the 5PM models are showing more consistently around the north of Tampa landfall scenario. In either case tropical storm and hurricane force winds will be felt all along the west coast of Florida, along with very heavy rains, and potential storm surge of up to 10 feet in the Tampa area and high surge all along the coast. The further north Ian can stay off the coast the better because as it gets north it should be running into less favorable conditions that will help to weaken the system.
 
Tropical storm warnings are in place for southwest Florida and the Florida Keys and hurricane warnings are in place from north of Tampa south to the Ft. Myers area. Many counties around Tampa are calling for mandatory evacuations to begin this afternoon. We’ll continue to monitor and provide updates around potential impacts.