CAT Season is Just Around the Corner – And IAA is Prepared

Here it is mid-May, and the start of CAT season is just a few weeks away. Since we’re so close to the June 1 beginning of hurricane season, I want to talk about how IAA has used the off-season to learn, prepare, and continuously strengthen our industry-leading CAT response. So, I’m dedicating both this issue of Client News and the next one to IAA’s CAT preparedness. 

Experts like Dr. Phil Klotzbach—a Research Scientist and lead author of Colorado State University’s 2021 Hurricane Outlook—are again predicting an above-average hurricane season this year. IAA’s CAT Response Team leaders had the privilege of virtually meeting with Dr. Phil recently. He told them to expect 17 named storms in 2021, versus the average 12.1. He also predicted there will be 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes out of the Atlantic basin.

While all that sounds concerning—no one wants to see our hurricane-prone states face any more storms—having this sort of knowledge ahead of time is just one way to be fully prepared, especially for what is predicted to be a busy season. The meeting produced a lot of great dialogue and was a productive, educational session for all involved.

While technically hurricane season is not 365 days long, our CAT Team works year-round, no matter the season, to keep us on the leading edge of catastrophe response. Last year we released our 4-part Catastrophe Strategy Series and announced our exclusive partnership with NASCAR. This year we're instituting even more significant enhancements to better serve our provider partners AND their customers during times of catastrophes. These enhancements are designed to drive customer satisfaction and further reduce cycle times.

In the next Client News issue, I will have some exciting updates to share around strategic first-responder partnerships, our latest in large-scale virtual exercises, and our upcoming participation in meetings and conferences with experts in emergency management.

Of course, the start of CAT season always closely aligns with the Memorial Day, and many of our IAA branch locations will have adjusted hours and auction days so that our staff and customers can enjoy the holiday. View the holiday schedule. 

Until next time, stay healthy and safe. And, as always, thanks for your business!

Steve Muscarello, 
Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, IAA 

View IAA’s forward-looking statements