Insurers Say Losses from Sandy Won’t Hit Florida

Insurance experts say the costs associated with losses from superstorm Sandy in the northeast should not affect Florida homeowners.

Sam Miller of the Florida Insurance Council said Tuesday that the Florida market is dominated by state-backed Citizens and local insurers who operate only in Florida along with a smaller number of Florida-only subsidiaries of a few national carriers.

Miller says none should experience significant losses because of Sandy.

Lynne McChristian of the Insurance Information Institute says Sandy’s effect on reinsurance markets should be minimal since much of the damage is from water and that is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program.

Florida business and homeowners have experienced sharp increases in recent years on property policies although the state has not seen a hurricane since Wilma in late 2005.