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Hurricane Season Nearing

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Prepping for storms & fraud

Florida’s new Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie made a poignant point in a recent speech.  He warned against the “Amazon Culture” where people expect things quickly, including hurricane recovery.  “Had Hurricane Dorian actually hit Broward and Palm Beach County 18 months ago, as of this month, we would still be picking up debris today,” Guthrie said.  Dorian is the Cat-5 storm that leveled parts of the Bahamas in September 2019 but slowed and thankfully took a northward track at the last minute, avoiding Florida.

We are just two weeks away from the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.  Projections are for an above average number of hurricanes, but hopefully fewer than last year’s record setting 30 named storms and the record 12 that made landfall.  Here’s the latest on preparation, fraud warnings, institutional readiness, and resiliency efforts.

Click here for printable view

Preparing for Storms & Fraud: Florida’s annual 10-day Disaster Preparation Sales Tax Holiday runs from May 28-June 6.  No sales tax will be charged on hurricane related items, such as flashlights, fuel containers, tarps, and portable generators costing $750 or less.  Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter has issued the Plan Prepare Protect: Are You Disaster Ready? guide to educate consumers on specific hurricane preparedness and recovery steps they can take before, during and after a disaster.  She’s also reissued her Demolish Contractor Fraud: Steps to Avoid Falling Victim, noting in a release “I want you to be aware of dishonest vendors looking to take advantage of you during vulnerable times such as after a disaster.”  Amen!  And to help you and your insurance clients, we’ve reissued my Lisa’s Lucky 7 Hurricane Season Prep!  You can click the image above for the full view and printable version.

Institutional Readiness: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state’s insurer of last resort, last week approved a $2.6 billion reinsurance and risk transfer program for the upcoming hurricane season.  It includes nearly $850 million of new catastrophe bonds, which is about double the amount of last year’s cat bonds.

One of the harshest lessons from 2017’s Hurricane Irma was the 12 people who died in a South Florida nursing home afterward from the lack of air conditioning due to the storm’s electricity outages.  Going into this season, the News Service of Florida reports the vast majority (97%) of Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities are now in compliance with rules requiring them to have emergency backup generators and 72 hours of fuel on-site. 

Topped utility poles and lines were a common sight from Hurricane Michael

Resiliency: Governor DeSantis announced last week that more than $111 million has been awarded to 22 communities through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program for communities impacted by Hurricane Michael.  This increased federal and state funding to harden our infrastructure make Florida more resilient to future hurricanes.  Craig Fugate, former FEMA Director and former Florida Emergency Management Director, recently shared this with WPTV-TV, on his new job consulting for the emergency management curriculum at Indian River State College: “How many times have you heard it called a natural disaster.  I’m like, ‘There’s no such thing.  It’s a natural hazard.’  It only becomes a disaster where and how we have built,” Fugate said.

And a last bit of good news.  The Iowa Legislature has passed the “Private Primary Residential Flood Insurance Model Act” after the national model act of the same name.  House File 583 exempts rates from prior approval, among other features, to encourage a vibrant private market as an alternative and complement to federal flood insurance.  Iowa joins Alabama and South Carolina with new laws, with another bill pending in the Louisiana Legislature.

LMA Newsletter of 5-17-21

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Tags: Atlantic Hurricane Season, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Contractor Fraud, Florida Hurricane Preparation, Private flood insurance, Private Primary Residential Flood Insurance Model Act., Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program, Reinsurance, Resiliency

“Lisa Miller is a true champion for the insurance industry, with her regular updates! We appreciate all you do and keeping us up to date on priority issues!”

Gillian Lloyd, Account Executive
Zywave
Milwaukee, WI

“Just a quick note to let you know how much I have appreciated your newsletter over the years and the assistance they offer for those in the field of claims. We depend on the information more than you will ever know!”

Laurie Rasberry, Chief Claims Officer
Acorn Claims
Prosper, Texas

“Another great Newsletter on Florida industry this week.  Your service and advocacy in Florida is very important to keeping me updated and apprised of the Florida insurance laws, trends and overall environment.  Something similar is very much needed in Louisiana, too.”

Jennifer Tedesco, Esq., Claims Director
Pharos Claims Services
Orlando, FL

“Great article on Risk Rating 2.0!”

Austin Perez, Senior Policy Representative for Federal Housing, Valuation, Insurance and Commercial Issues
National Association of Realtors
Washington, D.C.

“Your newsletter is fabulous!  I greatly appreciate the topics you expose, so that insurance professionals like myself can keep up with the latest events that affect the public we serve and ourselves.”

Cynthia Hoehn, Independent Property & Casualty Personal Lines insurance agent
Clermont, FL

“I have followed your weekly newsletter and podcasts and now have a full appreciation for what you bring to this industry.  You are an inspiring force, plain and simple.  I wanted you to know that you make a difference.  Thank you for all you do!”

Jeffrey Karam, CPCU
Bradenton, FL

“Thank you Lisa for staying on top of, as well as advocating, for Florida residents and legislative reform. Your newsletters are very informative and enjoy reading the points of view.”  

Shawna Miller, Sr. Claims Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager
Florida Peninsula Insurance Company
Jacksonville, FL

“Just wanted to say that I thoroughly love your newsletter. It’s is always informative and insightful to the ins and outs of our industry.  You are an inspiration and an important asset in the insurance world.  Keep up the great work!” 

Cynthia Scott, President
University Insurance Group
Davie, FL

“Lisa this is another great newsletter, and we appreciate the time and energy you put into these informative updates – you are on top of these topics!”

Mike Graham, CEO
Smart Vent Products, Floodproofing.com, & Risk Reduction Plus
Juno Beach, FL

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