Current predictions for the 2009 hurricane season note that cooler sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic could produce less intense hurricanes. In addition, the possible development of an El Nino, a warm-water phenomenon in the eastern Pacific Ocean, could suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic.

Nonethelees, among the many lessons learned during the recent hurricane season which produced 16 tropical storms, including eight hurricanes, as well as the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season, was the importance of taking active steps to prepare organizations before a storm hits. As Hurricanes Ike and Katrina demonstrated, a powerful storm can create havoc far beyond its immediate landing zone. Organizations thousands of miles from the Gulf Coast suffered losses as Katrina, for example disrupted supply chains in numerous industries and regions, forced travelers to cancel trips, disrupted agricultural operations, and more.

Marsh has a variety of resources aimed at helping organizations to enhance their hurricane preparedness and response efforts. Our Hurricane Preparedness & Response Checklist is designed to highlight the issues organizations should be thinking of before and during hurricane season.

You can also listen to a recent New Reality of Risk webinar during which predictions for the 2009 hurricane season were shared and risk mitigation solutions were discussed.

Marsh and its sister companies offer a number of services and information sources to enable our clients to better prepare for and manage the consequences of this year's hurricane season. You will find links to these additional resources on the right-hand side of this page, which will be updated regularly.

For more information about how Marsh can help your organization during the 2009 hurricane season, please contact us at .