$5 billion of damages are caused every year by hurricanes, about ten times more than by earthquakes. With the hurricane season officially starting on June 1, AXA Art Insurance Corporation, the exclusive provider of art and collectibles insurance services in the United States, is posting a special chapter on its web site, www.axa-art.com, listing a catalogue of steps and measures for collectors to mitigate hurricane damage to their prized possessions.

"Preparing your home and ensuring the personal safety of you and your loved ones are ultimately more important than saving an art object, but a few timely precautions can minimize damage," said Dietrich von Frank, President and CEO of AXA Nordstern Art.

Although meteorologists recently have forecast fewer storms forming over the Atlantic than in the past three years based on an absence of influences such as El Nino or La Nina, there is no reason to let one's guard down. For example, in 1992, Hurricane Andrew, the costliest on record, developed during a season of below-normal hurricane activity.

Hurricane mitigation of art investments, not unlike general property protection, includes doing everything possible to prevent damage, and being prepared to take immediate action if something does get damaged. AXA experts have put together the following checklist:

1. Fine art inventory: a list of valuable artwork with descriptions, values and gallery receipts, prepared well in advance. Include emergency telephone numbers of your insurance agents/brokers, insurance company (note your policy number), conservators, art storage facility and local freeze dry facilities. Keep an extra copy with your insurance agent.

2. Protection of documents: secure important documents in water and fire proof safes or storage boxes. Keep additional copies at a separate secure location.

3. Art storage: plan in advance to make arrangements for art transportation to an arts storage facility or create art storage crates for your home.

4. Reinforced home: protective shutters and roof hurricane clips in place, outside furniture securely bolted, tied down, or stored indoors.

5. Emergency supplies: such as flashlights, fans, dehumidifiers, hurricane lamps and oil, matches and coolers. If you have an emergency generator, please make sure it is above possible high water levels.

6. Cameras: such as waterproof instant cameras, to take pictures of damage.

But what do you do once your Rodin bronze is standing ankle-deep in water or your favorite Rosenquist print got scratched? Damage control is a matter of foresight and more often swift, smart action claims AXA Art. Putting wet art works on paper into the freezer until professional help arrives is only one of many relevant tips provided by AXA's specialists who strongly recommend to prepare a list of conservators specializing in the respective collection focus (whether works on paper, Asian sculpture or textiles) with telephone numbers.

Yet, the www.axa-art.com web site does not only focus on securing private art collections in all kinds of weather. In the Collectors World section of the site, Caring for Your Art features in-depth advice for established and emerging collectors on anything from proper shipping, storing and hanging of paintings to individual chapters on the most popular collectibles such as books, ceramics, furniture or toys.

Read more about protecting your home and art from hurricane damage in the current Aspects of Collecting on this site.