The predictions are coming true. Hurricanes and tropical storms are playing a much more important role in the summer's weather than they did during the 1997 lull.

But this is just icing on the cake. El Nino introduced a much wider area of the United States to the destructive potential of tornadoes this year. Deadly storms hit earlier than usual in the Southeast and elsewhere.

While a standard homeowners' policy typically covers tornado damage, people living in certain coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean should be aware they may need additional "windstorm'' protection for  hurricanes and general hurricane damage.

The states of Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and North and South Carolina all have some form of windstorm protection in place, says Ruth Gastel, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute. Residents there can buy insurance from state plans or through other special arrangements because individual companies have the right to opt out of covering such damage in high-risk areas.

The cost can vary widely depending on the location. In coastal North Carolina towns, such as  Nags Head and Wrightsville Beach, coverage for windstorm and hail damage costs about $523 annually for a $90,000 home with $45,000 in possessions. Insurance on that same house would cost about $177 in St. Augustine, Fla.

Coastal residents also need flood insurance, which means they could  find themselves spending more than $1,000 annually on premiums to guard against nature.

The problem? Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  It was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history as measured by damage claims, which totaled $15.5 billion. That led insurance companies to seek ways to protect themselves against excessive losses.

Homeowners should check with their state's Department of Insurance or a comparable agency for specific details on what types of coverage insurance companies are required to provide in their state.