According to the Insurance Journal, a renowned Colorado State University professor and meteorologist has weighed in on the 2006 hurricane season.

William M. Gray has predicted that 17 storms will make landfall during the 2006 hurricane season. Gray also predicted that a category three, four or five storm would hit the U.S. seaboard in '06.

The findings underscore the importance of home insurance, not just along the coast but in the recently tornado-ravaged Midwest as well. Remember that weather-related perils are not always as dramatic as what we witnessed in 2005 but can still cause massive damage to your property—and your wallet.

Save yourself the heartache of financial loss and review your homeowner's insurance policy this spring.

You should be on the lookout for:

• new purchases or additions made to your home


• valuables that you might have gotten rid of or sold (like Aunt Mae's antique China, for instance)


• valuables like jewelry or art that aren't covered under your basic policy

Taking an hour of your busy day to update your home insurance isn't appealing, I realize. But the "it won't happen to me" paradigm is an unfortunate happenstance amongst homeowners who've lost everything.

So take a look around your house and jot down anything new or different about your possessions and call your agent to let he or she know you need to make some adjustments to your policy. Then sit down and reward yourself with a guilty pleasure—a glossy magazine, a reality show, pick your poison.

Mine happens to be American Idol (but only on Tuesdays). And don't let my boyfriend tell you his is anything different. He's secretly rooting for Ace...but that stays between you and I.

[bonus link]: the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) has some great tips for taking inventory of your home to maximize your protection.