Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Invites Authorized Property and Casualty Insurer Participation in May 17, 2011 Partners in Recovery Fort Lauderdale Meeting

In keeping with its “strong emphasis on the prompt and equitable payment of property insurance claims, particularly following a disaster,” the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) has issued an informational bulletin to all authorized property and casualty insurers inviting them to participate in the 2011 annual insurance disaster planning meeting of Partners in Recovery.

This year’s meeting is scheduled for May 17 at the Broward County Convention Center (Rooms 207 and 208) from 9:00 a.m. until Noon.

Partners in Recovery provides year-round insurance disaster preparation and response communications among the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, and emergency management and insurance communities.  It includes the following components:

• The Insurance Liaison Team at the State Emergency Management Operations Center in Tallahassee.  When a Florida disaster occurs, this team will transmit information on the disaster to the insurance industry.
• Insurance Disaster Assessment Team will provide initial damage estimates within hours of landfall.  The team will travel to the disaster area to evaluate the damage caused by the event and provide timely, critical on-site insurance related damage assessment information.
• State Emergency Response Team (“SERT”) permits are issued to facilitate entry into damaged areas by insurance company adjusters.  Companies are issued SERT permits that expedite access into areas that have been heavily damaged by a catastrophic event.  SERT permits for the 2011-2012 hurricane seasons are currently available for all authorized property and casualty insurers.

For information on Partners in Recovery meetings, SERT badges, or to be added to the distribution list, please contact Jim McCloy of Partners in Recovery at (850) 519-4680 or email him at Jim.mccloy@comcast.net.

To view the OIR’s informational bulletin on the meeting, click here.

Should you have any comments or questions, please contact Colodny Fass.