Hurricane Beryl made its destructive presence felt last month, and the Category 5 storm wreaked absolute havoc in the Caribbean and was far more destructive than is typical for this early in the season. Though the powerful storm bypassed Florida, the state is all but guaranteed to be in the crosshairs of several—perhaps even stronger—storms in the months to come.

At the risk of sounding particularly alarmist, we aren’t ready—or anywhere close to it. The 2023 season included the strongest hurricane to hit Florida’s Big Bend region in over a century, leaving behind more than $3 billion worth of damage in its wake. And here’s more bad news: Some experts predict the hurricane season now upon us will be particularly hellish—and very expensive for the insurance market. Homeowner insurance policies in the Sunshine State are already among the priciest in the nation due to hurricanes, with policyholders set to potentially pay average annual premiums of $11,759 by the end of 2024.