The CADO News Page

From the September 30, 2020 Press Release

"Columbia, S.C. – Monday, Governor Henry McMaster signed the South Carolina Private Flood Insurance Act into law (S. 882). This Act aims to foster innovative flood insurance coverage in South Carolina, allowing insurers the ability to test products in the market and offer consumers greater choice for flood insurance coverage. "

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is reminding policyholders affected by Hurricane Laura and who may be affected by Hurricane Delta that the single season named-storm/hurricane deductible law prohibits a homeowner from paying more than one named-storm/hurricane deductible in the same hurricane season.

From the Press Release.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In response to California’s latest destructive fires, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is requesting that insurance companies help wildfire survivors who are overwhelmed with the task of navigating the claims process by providing up to 100 percent of personal property coverage limits without a detailed inventory to those who suffered a total loss of their home, similar to previous identical requests in past years.

The information below is from the FEMA Daily Ops Briefing issued 10/06 @ 8:30 am

Situation: : Of the over 7 million acres burned, the National Watch Center continues to track 11 active fires that have burned nearly 2 million acres from the West Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Mandatory evacuations continue throughout the impacted regions. No reported unmet needs.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the Department of Financial Services’ emergency adjuster license system has been activated to support homeowners’ and businesses’ efforts to get back on their feet following the impacts of Hurricane Sally in the Florida Panhandle.

From the Monday, September 21, 2020 Press Release

Yellow alert for economic losses. Some damage is possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of the United States. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response.

August 6, 2020 - Atmospheric and oceanic conditions are primed to fuel storm development in the Atlantic, leading to what could be an “extremely active” season, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. Today, the agency released its annual August update to the Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook, initially issued in May.

From the NOAA Forecast;

"May 21, 2020An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

"Fishers, IN – March 10, 2020 – Worley Claims Services LLC, a recognized leader in providing insurance claims services in North America, announced the launch of a new company brand and name to Alacrity Solutions Group effective immediately. The change reflects the company’s broader commitment and its expertise in providing innovative claims management services in the property, auto and casualty claim marketplace."

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From the Press Release

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"Commissioner Lara called on the insurance industry to assist small businesses facing layoffs and lost income due to business closures and government actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Insurance company responses to the data call are due by April 9, 2020, and will help the Department understand the number and scope of commercial business interruption type coverages in effect and the approximate number of policies that exclude viruses such as COVID-19. This data will help inform state policymakers on solutions to protect businesses.

The below is from the bulletin.

March 24, 2020

To:   All TDI-regulated carriers, agents, adjusters, and licensees

Re:   COVID-19: Suspension of certain licensing requirements and fees

On March 13, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor authorized the use of all available state and local government resources necessary to cope with the disaster.

TDI expects carriers to work with their policyholders as they prepare for and respond to the spread of COVID-19. Carriers should look to the Governor’s ongoing declarations related to COVID-19 for guidance on how long to extend relief.

All new and renewal TWIA policies with an effective date on or after January 1, 2020 will include updated coverages, terms, and conditions. Many of the changes are a result of recent revisions to the Texas Insurance Code by the Texas Legislature.

"The above is from the TWIA website"

"We expect that the next two weeks will be characterized by above-normal amounts of hurricane activity. "

"August 8, 2019 NOAA forecasters monitoring oceanic and atmospheric patterns say conditions are now more favorable for above-normal hurricane activity since El Nino has now ended. Two named storms have formed so far this year and the peak months of the hurricane season, August through October, are now underway."

M 7.1 - 17km NNE of Ridgecrest, CA
2019-07-06 03:19:52 (UTC)35.766°N 117.605°W17.0 km depth

"The so-called bomb cyclone that brought heavy snow, blizzard conditions and major flooding to the Midwest in March landed with a resounding meteorological “ka-boom!” and became one of two billion-dollar weather and climate disasters this year.

The other was a severe storm that struck the Northeast, Southeast and Ohio Valley in late February."

The above is from the NOAA article, follow the Read More link for the article.

From the article;

"Among the many lessons for insurers coming out of Fort McMurray, one may be in how to handle claims caused by wildfires – a peril that insurers have predicted for some time will only get worse."

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"After an active Atlantic hurricane season in 2018, AccuWeather forecasters are predicting 2019 to result in a near- to slightly above-normal season with 12 to 14 storms.

Of those storms, five to seven are forecast to become hurricanes and two to four are forecast to become major hurricanes."

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Photo from the CADO Gallery

BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Several Eastern Carolina counties are asking for help as flooding from upstream dam releases threaten their economies.

This could be a rough spring. National Weather *Service* hydrologists on Thursday sounded the alarm over the potential for significant flooding in the central U.S. ...

TUNICA, Miss. — Fitz Casino and Hotel has reopened after temporarily closing due to excess flooding.

Leaders with Watertown and Codington County are already preparing for potential flooding in the coming weeks and months.

This year's winter storms have created water runoff into the Salt River and floods through the southwest Valley, but is replenishing the water supply.

Another local church has stepped up to help families affected by recent flooding.

More homeowners are reporting water damage from inside their homes even as many other types of claims—including fire—have declined in frequency, ...