Pat Shingleton for Nov. 2, 2012

A post-tropical cyclone describes a system that doesn’t possess sufficient characteristics to be considered a tropical storm or hurricane. Hurricane Sandy was not a hurricane at landfall but a post-tropical cyclone and this designation could create problems for insurance entities and those affected. Regardless of the status at landfall, the devastation replicates the destruction from Ike in Galveston, Ivan in Pensacola and, of course, Andrew, Katrina, Gustav and Isaac. Due to the fine print of insurance policies, the precise wind speed could mean a difference of tens of thousands of dollars to homeowners. The “hurricane deductible” provision for most East Coast residents may be a blessing as insurance experts believe the hurricane deductible does not apply to Sandy due to its designation at landfall. Fastcast: Foggy.