<H1>11 ways to avoid hurricane costs</H1>

By Craig Guillot, Bankrate.com

It's hard to protect a home from a monster Category 5 hurricane, but many readily available products can reduce or minimize the impact and save homeowners big bucks in repairs and insurance premiums.

The peace of mind that can result is priceless.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, predicts the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, although a bit less active than normal, will spawn three to six hurricanes -- one to two of them major. And while the season got off to a slow start with no named storms by early August, it's important to remember Hurricane Andrew roared offshore just south of Miami on Aug. 24, 1992.

"Forecasts of an average season should not lead to complacency," says Claire Wilkinson, vice president for global issues at the Insurance Information Institute. "An average hurricane season was also forecast in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew caused more than $23 billion in property losses.

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~Sandy G.