Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Sep 19, 2017
Irma Insurance Claims Already Near $2 Billion
The Heaviest Claims Activity was in the half-dozen Counties that form the Southern Tip of Florida: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Collier and Lee. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Lloyd Dunkelberger reports via the Gainesville Sun.
- Who Pays For Hurricane Irma and Harvey Damages?
- So Far, 335,000 Irma Claims Totaling $1.95 Billion Filed in Florida
- Florida Regulators, Ratings Agency Begin Tallying Irma’s Toll
- Lawsuit Seeks Money For FPL Customers Left In Dark
- Southwest Florida Residents Clear Sodden Homes In Scorching Heat
- Firms Hit By Harvey, Irma Hope Business Interruption Coverage Pays Off
- Expert’s Advice To Florida Agents: Report Claims That Fall Below Hurricane Deductible
Irma Spawns Select Committee in Florida Legislature
The Committee will study whether protections for Residents of Nursing Homes, Group Homes and ALFs should be strengthened as well as the Florida Building Code and ways to improve storage of Food, Water and Fuel in advance of a menacing storm.
- Hurricane Irma Clouds Budget Forecast
- Corcoran’s Good Move on Hurricane Readiness
- Florida’s Hard Choices After Mega-Storm
Four Hurricane Irma-Affected U.S. Attorney Offices Form Fraud Task Forces
The National Center for Disaster Fraud along with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the District of Puerto Rico, Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida and Northern District of Florida have formed Task Forces comprised of Local, State and Federal Agencies in their respective areas to combat Hurricane Irma related illegal activity. Insurance Journal reports.
Florida Relaxes Contractor Licensing Laws in Irma’s Aftermath
In the 37 Florida Counties covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Disaster Declaration following Irma, Licensed General, Residential and Building Contractors can perform Roofing Installation and Repairs rather than having to Subcontract the work to Licensed Roofing Contractors as State Law normally requires. ConstructionDive.com reports.
A.M. Best: Hurricane Irma to Test Florida Market Newbies
Although Insured Losses as a result of Hurricane Irma will not be as severe as originally forecast, the Storm still represents a sizeable catastrophe event that will test the infrastructure and potentially strain the financial wherewithal of some Local and Regional Carriers in Florida, particularly those that are geographically concentrated, according to a new briefing from A.M. Best. Insurance Journal reports.
Nursing Homes Plan Summit On Generator Order
Calling the Deaths of Eight Seniors last week an “Isolated Incident,” a Nursing-Home Industry Group will hold a Meeting Friday to discuss a move by Governor Rick Scott to Require Nursing Homes to be equipped with Generators to Power Air-Conditioning Systems when electricity goes out. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders and Tom Urban report for the Gainesville Sun.
- Bill Nelson Asks About “All The Phone Calls”
- Elder Facilities Scramble To Comply With New Rule
- First Legislation Filed After Nursing Home Deaths
Hurricane Irma Ravaged Florida Crops, Agriculture Commissioner Says
Florida Farmers suffered 80 to 90 percent Losses in parts of the State after Hurricane Irma flattened Greenhouses, toppled Trees and flooded pastures as it tore through the State. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Monday.
After A Death In Everglades City, Rising Concerns Of A Public Health Crisis
The deluge of potentially Toxic Stormwater has raised the specter of Widespread Infection, sent at least half a dozen to the Hospital, cost one man his leg and may have sickened another who died Saturday. Brett Murphy and Joseph Cranney report for the Marco Eagle.
10,000 People In Keys Left Homeless By Hurricane Irma, Governor Says
An Estimated 10,000 Residents are Homeless after Hurricane Irma blew through the Florida Keys as a massive and powerful Category 4 Storm and devastated entire blocks of homes last week. Katie Atkins reports for WLRN.
The Best Forecasts for Hurricane Irma Came From a Computer Model Few People Know About
The Panasonic Model Forecasts were especially good about four to seven in days in advance, the Data show, outperforming the European and American GFS models. Its Forecast for Irma’s Track had a substantially smaller error, on average. Jason Samenow reports for The Washington Post.
National Weather Service Employees Ask Charlie Crist To Help Stop Personnel Cuts
They say such Cuts could Damage the Accuracy in Forecasting Storms and other Major Weather Events. Mitch Perry reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Rick Scott To Counties: Prioritize Your Clean-Ups
Governor Rick Scott is telling Counties Affected by Hurricane Irma to Get Their Act Together. FloridaPolitics.com reports.
Mortgage Relief Available For Homeowners Hit By Irma
South Florida Homeowners may be able to Redirect Mortgage Payments to Cover Major Repairs in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The Sun-Sentinel reports via Crain’s Miami.
Recovery Still Eludes Some South Florida Hotels
In the days before Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, Miami-Dade’s Hotels emptied out and profits plummeted, signaling the first of a sting of Hurricane-Induced Challenges for the Region’s Tourism Industry. The Miami Herald reports via Crain’s Miami.
After the Hurricane, Solar Kept Florida Homes and a City’s Traffic Lights Running
By using Energy Storage with Solar Panels, some Homeowners were able to go Off-Grid, showing how distributed power could speed future storm recovery. Lyndsey Gilpin reports for InsideClimate.org.
HCI Group Subsidiary Homeowners Choice Approved to Write Flood Insurance in Texas
HCI Group, Inc. announced today that its Wholly-Owned Insurance Subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., has received Regulatory Approval to Write Flood Insurance in Texas.
Ritch Workman Named to Public Service Commission
Workman, a Well-Liked Former Chairman of House Rules Committee, Lost a bruising Primary Battle in 2016 to Fellow Republican Debbie Mayfield for Senate District 17. FloridaPolitics.com Publisher Peter Schorsch reports.
Feds Extend Deadline For Florida Education Plan Shrouded In Secrecy
Federal Education Officials are giving the State more time to submit its Plan to meet the Requirements of a New Federal Education Law — a move that will give State Officials a few extra weeks to wrap up some last-minute changes under consideration that have been shrouded in secrecy. Daniel Ducassi reports for Politico Florida.
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