Industry Pitched In After Hurricanes
Insurance Journal applauds the industry for its speedy reaction and assistance to assess damage and help out after hurricanes Bonnie, Charley, Ivan, and Frances tore through the southeast leaving major damage — no one was spared, not even northeastern states that encountered heavy rain and flooding.
The Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) and the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida (PIA) rallied members to pitch in to help victims. The Internet played a key role “Hurricane Command Posts” and “Action Alerts” were set up on their Web sites. Most regularly updated their Web sites with claims information, medical data, FEMA assistance and adjusters’ requirements.
FAIA established a “Disaster Relief Fund,” to collect money for agencies in need. Funds were used to buy equipment and provisions to restore agencies abilities to respond to the public.
Insurance adjusters became hurricane-chasers. They hopped all over the southeast to write damage estimates in central Florida, the Florida Panhandle and Alabama — and their work is on-going.
Several thousand members of the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices, Ltd. (NAPSLO) breathed a sign of relief as Jeanne spun away from their Sept. 19 to 22 convention; but came right back soon after it ended to hit Fort Pierce, 110 miles from Orlando. And, Jeanne moved on before the Oct. 6 to 9 ASCnet Convention, also in Orlando. Big I conferees getting ready for the Oct. 7 to 12 convention in Orlando hoped they wouldn’t have any unwanted visitors.
Looking ahead, weather forecasters predict an upswing in hurricanes during the next 10 to 20 years — so this could just be the beginning!
In this issue and probably several upcoming ones, you will read hurricane updates. When Jeanne threatened the NAPSLO convention there were news stories on www.insurancejournal.com and even an audio clip of an interview with an Orlando television weatherman, who predicted the hurricane wouldn’t postpone the convention but didn’t say Jeanne would loop back to the Florida.
This is my first Insurance Journal Southeast issue. I have more than 25 years experience as a reporter, photographer and editor with national and international newspapers and magazines, including several insurance-industry newsletters. As part of my introduction to the industry, I attended the NAPSLO, ASCnet, and Big I conventions in Orlando.
I look forward to serving readers across all southeast states. Please send me your news releases, news tips. I’m always interested in your opinion about stories I have written, or those you would like to see in Insurance Journal Southeast. Please call me any time at (352) 563-5965, fax (352) 563-5625, or e-mail dkaiser@insurancejournal.com.