Oklahomans should get ready to pay more for insurance because of natural disasters associated with changes in climate around the world, the state insurance commissioner said.
Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland told those at the third annual Oklahoma Climate and Loss Mitigation Conference at the National Weather Center that Oklahoma’s property insurance rates are the fourth-highest in the nation because of the state’s vulnerability to various kinds of natural disasters.
Oklahoma has been battered in the past year by flooding, ice storms and tornadoes, Holland said April 17.
She urged planning for more severe weather in the future, including changes to the state’s building codes that make homes more tornado-resistant. That will keep insurance rates from jumping so drastically, Holland said.
“There’s lots of science and engineering going on now” in building safety, Holland said, noting that she’s seen roof protection devices that can protect homes in an F-4 tornado.
Rubber shingles can protect residents from hail damage, but none of those add-ons are required by state code, she said.
Tim Marshall, an engineer and meteorologist who spoke at the conference, said after the deadly and devastating May 1999 tornado outbreak, residents often rebuilt homes with roofs that weren’t properly attached to the walls.
Without proper attachments, roofs are prone to fly off in high wind, Marshall said.
Besides the severe weather, Oklahoma has been plagued by drought and wildfires.
Climatologists say that’s not likely to change and may worsen as emissions from industry contribute to a warming planet.
While the global picture of a warming world is rather clear – in terms of rising temperatures and precipitation – scientists are trying to plug gaps in how they understand the future of localized severe weather systems, said Mark Shafer, director of climate information at the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
More intense droughts and wildfires are expected as evaporation rates go up, but it’s not clear if there will be more or bigger tornadoes with climate change, Shafer said.
Information from: The Oklahoman, www.newsok.com
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