USA today story, Ivan recovery. Pretty much sums it up here.

[rolltide]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... over_x.htm

[Aquawind]

One of the Biggest lessons for Floridians has been the realization of how inadequete the insurance industry is..

Paul

[MGC]

I wonder how many people will end up in court because their insurance company don't want to pay an equitable settlement?.....MGC

[Aquawind]

Way to many..

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /WEATHER01

Paul

[MGC]

Yep, imagine having your insurance claim tied up in court for years. It happened to a girfriend of mine after a truck rearended her. The truck company insurance offered her a pittance, refused to negoiate so she had to hire a lawyer. Lawyer got a third of the payment but she finally got a reasonable settlement after a couple of years......MGC

[Lindaloo]

Seems like most of the insurance companies are having a hard time distinguishing between what was wind damage and flood damage. Now this is where it gets tricky. Flood insurance only covers what is INSIDE the home (contents). Homeowners policies cover the damage to the home (structural) because of the flooding but not content because it was damaged by flood waters. Flood insurance does not cover the structure and Citizens is using that as a way of getting out of paying claims. Unfortunately, it is going to take a lawyer to straighten them out and make them pay. This is where Jeb Bush and the Florida Insurance Commissioner should fast track these lawsuits and get these people back in their homes and normal lives again.

My car insurance increased dramatically. I have no surcharges and no claims. Made a call to the insurance commissioner's office only to be told he has no idea why it went up. Well he better be finding out even though it does not take a real genius to figure out why.

Another problem they are having is some of them can't find people to rebuild their homes.

[wayoutfront]

Homeowners policies cover the damage to the home (structural) because of the flooding but not content because it was damaged by flood waters

sorry but your wrong...your homeowners does not cover any portion of your home damaged by flood. and that is not accurate analysis to the citizens claims (who does not cover flood) legal claims.

Flood Insurance company's cover floods, Citizens covers wind. If a residence only has 10% wind damage and 40% flood. The lawyers for the flood companies are saying citizens because of the Replacement cost wording in the policy, along with local Florida statutes that deal with total losses should pay for the entire replacement of homes.

There are many many articles on this subject. I just got out of Florida, and with the predictions you guys are giving looks like I will back shortly

[Lindaloo]

Homeowners policies cover the damage to the home (structural) because of the flooding but not content because it was damaged by flood waters

sorry but your wrong...your homeowners does not cover any portion of your home damaged by flood.

In the case of a hurricane yes sir or yes ma'am it does. Like I said, it can get tricky if you are clueless and insurance companies will do what they can to get out of paying wind claims.

How do they know what is wind and what is flood damage? They don't.

Which insurance company do you work for?

[wayoutfront]

ok whatever...

I guessyour the expert & I know nothing
which states do hold licenses for?

I work for too many carriers to list. (not citizens)

by the anywho the Florida ISO policies are quite easy for anyone to find on the net. as is the NFIP flood policy I am not going to debate this on here

Everyone needs to read their full policy, and if you have anyquestions about possible scenarios call your agent

PS. Basically flood damage is any damage to your dwelling caused by rising or pooling water.

[Lindaloo]

ok whatever...

I guessyour the expert & I know nothing
which states do hold licenses for?

I work for too many carriers to list. (not citizens)

by the anywho the Florida ISO policies are quite easy for anyone to find on the net. as is the NFIP flood policy I am not going to debate this on here

Everyone needs to read their full policy, and if you have anyquestions about possible scenarios call your agent

PS. Basically flood damage is any damage to your dwelling caused by rising or pooling water.

I am no expert, but have 12 years experience as a property adjuster and am licensed still in Mississippi and Alabama. I got out of that business though because of the way they started treating people. Looks like I made a wise decision.

People know what flood damage is. Since you just "got out of Florida" then you should know that some of these people had their roof blown off and the insurance companies are not wanting to pay because they say it is flood damage.

Oh and there was NO need for sarcasm. Thanks!

[wayoutfront]

I have just got out of FL, and no I have not run into any carrier or adjuster denying claims close to anything you describe. And there is no sarcasm.

I don't come here to discuss Insurance, I come to follow my hobby, unless somone decides to misinform the public.



I don't make factual statements about Hurricanes because I am still learning.

[Lindaloo]

According to statutes in MS and Alabama I am offering no bogus info. I am not familiar with Florida statutes.

By your own info, you are saying that the people in the articles are lying? I highly doubt that. Did you even click the links and read what is happening in Pensacola 5 months after Ivan? THAT is what I am basing my opinions on not the fact that there are claims that are or are not being denied. All I know is there is NO reason these people are having to wait for claims to be settled 5 MONTHS later!! It is ridiculous.

[wayoutfront]

Thats exactly what I am saying. the reporter is doing. reporting on emotion and not facts.

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/nfip/dp126.pdf <----- NFIP flood policy

Bruster, 55, has received a $13,000 insurance settlement and $1,700 from FEMA. But he says it will cost $60,000 to repair the small house that has been in his family 58 years. He is appealing to FEMA for more assistance. "My grandmother scuffled to get this house and keep this house for us. And if there's any way possible that I can keep it, that's what I want to do," says Bruster, a truck driver who is currently drawing disability. "It's a hurting feeling, too, when they (FEMA officials) tell you they can't do nothing for you."

why does he think he needs a new house?

The Woolfords have received $170,000 from their flood insurance policy and $3,000 from the company insuring them against wind damage. But it will cost $300,000 to rebuild — this time on pilings and with other reinforcement to withstand a hurricane.

"They're trying to beat people like us down so we just say 'forget it,' " says Alan Woolford, 46, an artist who lost most of his work to Ivan. He says some residents have taken whatever settlement money they could get andmoved.

The Woolfords and their two children lived in a motel for 11/2 weeks after the hurricane, then for a month in a duplex lent to them. Now they're renting a houseabout 2 miles from their old home. Like many others, they're paying a mortgage on a house that no longer exists, while also paying rent.

They painstakingly save receipts and are seeking help from FEMA to cover their rent after the insurer that issued their wind policy refused. So far they've received nothing. They applied for a Small Business Administration loan to help rebuild. But the process is tedious.

These people had flood Insurance, they CHOSE to not carry enough. And why should the wind carrier indemnify this homeowner on a peril they do not cover?
And why did he not insure his paintings?


you don't pay for a ham sandwich policy and get filet mignon settlement

I would like to see the Mississippi or Alabama statute that requires the Homowners policy to indemnify for a flood peril

[Zadok]

Best thing to do is liquidate any real property and rent before the season gets here. It takes time to get through the selling process and get to closing. That way you don't have to deal with taxes, insurance and association assesments. Just make sure you rent in a concrete block structure with inch and a half thick tile roofs. Get ready now it is only a couple months away.

Good luck!

Riders on the Storm

[MGC]

To my knowldege, Mississippi don't require flood insurance. My house sits atop a 35 foot sand dune next to a bayou. All I have is wind and fire type insurance.....MGC

[Lindaloo]

Thats exactly what I am saying. the reporter is doing. reporting on emotion and not facts.

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/nfip/dp126.pdf <----- NFIP flood policy

Bruster, 55, has received a $13,000 insurance settlement and $1,700 from FEMA. But he says it will cost $60,000 to repair the small house that has been in his family 58 years. He is appealing to FEMA for more assistance. "My grandmother scuffled to get this house and keep this house for us. And if there's any way possible that I can keep it, that's what I want to do," says Bruster, a truck driver who is currently drawing disability. "It's a hurting feeling, too, when they (FEMA officials) tell you they can't do nothing for you."

why does he think he needs a new house?

The Woolfords have received $170,000 from their flood insurance policy and $3,000 from the company insuring them against wind damage. But it will cost $300,000 to rebuild — this time on pilings and with other reinforcement to withstand a hurricane.

"They're trying to beat people like us down so we just say 'forget it,' " says Alan Woolford, 46, an artist who lost most of his work to Ivan. He says some residents have taken whatever settlement money they could get andmoved.

The Woolfords and their two children lived in a motel for 11/2 weeks after the hurricane, then for a month in a duplex lent to them. Now they're renting a houseabout 2 miles from their old home. Like many others, they're paying a mortgage on a house that no longer exists, while also paying rent.

They painstakingly save receipts and are seeking help from FEMA to cover their rent after the insurer that issued their wind policy refused. So far they've received nothing. They applied for a Small Business Administration loan to help rebuild. But the process is tedious.

These people had flood Insurance, they CHOSE to not carry enough. And why should the wind carrier indemnify this homeowner on a peril they do not cover?
And why did he not insure his paintings?


you don't pay for a ham sandwich policy and get filet mignon settlement

I would like to see the Mississippi or Alabama statute that requires the Homowners policy to indemnify for a flood peril

Fair enough. IMO, this is where FEMA should help at least in getting this guy back on his feet. No one asks for this. FEMA usually helps people who are uninsured? That does not seem right to me anyway.

[Lindaloo]

To my knowldege, Mississippi don't require flood insurance. My house sits atop a 35 foot sand dune next to a bayou. All I have is wind and fire type insurance.....MGC

Mortgage companies will require flood coverage in flood prone areas, but is not mandatory in MS. I carry flood insurance though.

[wayoutfront]

Fair enough. IMO, this is where FEMA should help at least in getting this guy back on his feet

I can agree to this... If he qualifies, if not he can always apply for a very low interest loan form the SBA

[Lindaloo]

Fair enough. IMO, this is where FEMA should help at least in getting this guy back on his feet

I can agree to this... If he qualifies, if not he can always apply for a very low interest loan form the SBA

I agree!

[iceangel]

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/new ... 9536.shtml