Winds at the Shore…
The thing you can’t see, but causes a lot of damage. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) differentiates “straight line” wind from that which comes from a storm. Straight line wind was the least damaging according to their 2017 statistics. Straight line winds are different than severe weather related winds. Severe weather is responsible for billions of dollars of damage each year. According to the site Science.HowStuffWorks.com, it would take a 40-45 mph wind to knock a 100lb person off their feet. Doesn’t seem like much, but in our area of New Jersey, we can see frequently 40mph+ straight-line wind gusts but generally not sustained.
Merriam-Webster defines wind as “a natural movement of air at any velocity”. But they also go into other definitions which reminded me that wind can have positive effects too. For example, wind mills need wind to create energy. In many countries, windmills still provide a good source of energy. And then there are “wind instruments” which require you to blow into the instrument to create music.
NOAA also has a wind chill chart on their page. It is fascinating to me to see how little wind it takes in the cold to drop the temperature or “wind chill” . As I sit here writing this, we are in a cold snap with temperatures in the low single digits. Just a little wind would take us into negative “wind chill” temperatures.
Claimsmate.com has a great article on “The 5 Surprising Things You Need To Know About Wind Damage Insurance Claims”. Keep in mind that owning a home at the Jersey Shore does put you in straight line wind during the year. Insurance companies don’t always include wind coverage in your policy. And many differentiate down to small detail what they will cover under wind damage. I definitely recommend checking out your insurance policy, go over it with your insurance broker to make sure you know the differences in your policy on wind damage and whether you are covered. It will be devastating to learn after you already have damage, that you aren’t covered for wind.
Research Sites:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml