There are days in our lives that effect us forever and even forty-seven years later, we are able to remember things about that day like it just happened yesterday.

Her name was Celia and she was the only hurricane to strike the United States in 1970! Hurricane Celia pounded the Corpus Christi area with sustained winds of 125 mph and gusts up to 175 mph on Aug. 3, 1970. Celia moved past the western tip of Cuba on her way into the center of the Gulf of Mexico as just a tropical depression. From there, Celia became a hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph during the evening of Aug 1st. She was originally expected to hit Galveston and even lost wind strength over the next day with sustained winds dropping to 100 mph before she spiked again and then struck the Corpus Christi on Sunday, Aug. 3.

The National Weather Service reported gusts reaching 160 mph and she caused more than $450 million in damage (more than $7 Billion in today’s money).  Hurricane Celia destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Portland, Ingleside and Rockport.

I was only in elementary school but what our citizens saw that day, and more importantly, what we saw the next several days following that day, made us aware of how important it is to be prepared during Hurricane Season.  It wasn’t my family’s first catastrophic storm.  My Grandparents and Great Grandparents survived Corpus Christi’s infamous storm of 1919 and my Mom and Dad had seen their share of storms as well so they knew what to do.  Do You know what to do?  Are you Ready?

Unlike thousands of folks in Corpus Christi, my family was fortunate that we only received minimal property damage. Yet like tens of thousands of other Corpus Christian’s we were without electricity for two weeks after the storm and I will never forget how hot and humid it was.  If you think water boils are an inconvenience, you’ve got a lot to do to prepare yourself and your loved ones before our next big storm strikes!

Are you Ready?  Now is the time to prepare and to know what precautions are necessary:

• Fill your Hurricane Kit.
• Plan your evacuation route and decide today what will trigger your plan into motion.
• Discuss your Plan with your family, friends and loved ones.

Don’t think it can happen to you?  Check out this historic 1970 film of Corpus Christi taken the day after Hurricane Celia made landfall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCZUCJMiZvA&feature=youtu.be

This film can’t duplicate the fear, the heat, nor the humidity that we felt nor can it duplicate the smells that we experienced from the thousands of tons of debris that Hurricane Celia left behind but you can see second hand the destruction that she left.  It may help you better understand just how important preparedness is and how important it is that you have the right windstorm and flood insurance protection.  Call Ed Cantu Insurance Agency today at 361 991-3575 for help before it’s too late!

Because we care,

Ed Cantu

p.s. check out www.edcantuinsurance.com for additional Hurricane Preparedness information including a special report from Hurricane Expert Dr. Steve Lyons!

Your Dream home is waiting. Ed Cantu Insurance Agency and other Real Estate professionals are coming together to help more Corpus Christians achieve the American Dream of owning their first home. We invite you, and or your friends and family to come discover each step needed so that you can buy your first home. It’s easier than you think when you have 4 experts from the Real Estate, Mortgage, Home Insurance and Title business help you learn what you must do to buy your first home.

This Free informational meeting will be held Wednesday at 6 pm on July 26th, 2017 at the Courtyard Marriott, located at 5133 Flynn Parkway in Corpus Christi. Seats are very limited so please RSVP now at (361) 452-0018.

Because we Care!

Ed Cantu
Ed Cantu Insurance Agency

Famous Words of Homeowner Flood Victims:
“But I Don’t Live In a Flood Zone.”
“What do you mean I’m not covered? My Home Is a Wreck!”

The fact is, we all live in a flood zone and according to the National Flood Program, you are Four times more likely to have a flood than a fire during a 30-year mortgage. And nearly 25% of all Flood claims are paid to homeowners who were considered low risk flood areas.

Did you know that Floods are the # One natural disaster in the United States? And did you know that your Homeowners and your Windstorm Insurance policy excludes flood damage? It’s Hurricane Season… he heavy rainfall from tropical storms and hurricanes (sometimes up to 30”) and the tide surge they bring makes it a smart time to secure vital flood damage protection today!

5 More Facts You Should Know about Flood Insurance:

FACT: Floods are our nation’s most common and costly natural disaster and cause millions of dollars in damage every year.

FACT: Homeowners and renters insurance does not typically cover flood damage. Flood insurance will protect your home and prized belongings from rising water or mudflow due to heavy rainfall or water rising from coastal tide surges.

FACT: You, we all live in a Flood zone. Floods can happen anywhere– More than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside the high risk flood zone.

FACT:  Flood insurance can pay regardless of whether or not there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

FACT: Most federal disaster assistance comes in the form of low-interest disaster loans from U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and you have to pay them back. FEMA offers disaster grants that don’t need to be paid back, but this amount is often much less than what is needed to recover. A claim against your flood insurance policy could and often does, provide more funds for recovery than those you could qualify for from FEMA or the SBA–and you don’t have to pay it back.

The good news is that flood Insurance can be very affordable. Average Flood insurance premium is $33 per month when your property is not classified as high risk. You must act now because there is a 30-day waiting period (from the time your application is received) for Flood protection to go into force. It’s urgent that you contact us today!

Call (361) 991-1493 today and we’ll take care of this over the phone or email us now at ed@edcantu.com.

Because we Care

Ed Cantu
Home Insurance Specialist
Ed Cantu Insurance Agency

p.s. This photo was taken in Corpus Christi, TX in May of 2015 after just 6 inches of rain and without any tidal surge from a tropical storm or hurricane. click https://www.edcantuinsurance.com/floodinsurance.php#quote for your flood insurance quote.