The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to monitor the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as it relates to COVID-19. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the CDC is encouraging organizations to promote social distancing, hold meetings via videoconferencing, reduce non-essential travel, and adjust or postpone events and gatherings.

In light of this situation, all 2021 NFIP Adjuster Claims Presentations will be held via webinar.

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.

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.

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.

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.

...

"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."

...

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, ...

A rainstorm which moved through the area Wednesday caused flooding in the community of Brookside.

For independent adjusters, the need to replace retiring workers is becoming more urgent.
 

Source of the above excerpt: canadianunderwriter.ca

Build Release 8.1.13 is now available for Simsol’s Property Estimating Software. The most significant improvements are the multi-page functionality and the new NFIP Forms for the Preliminary and Final Reports. The National Flood Insurance Program’s updated flood claim forms for adjusters were updated to improve readability to make it easier for policyholders to understand.

Source: Simsol website

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season was the third in a consecutive series of above-average and damaging Atlantic hurricane seasons, featuring 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes and a total of $33.3 billion (2018 USD) in damages. The season officially began on June 1, 2018, and ended on November 30, 2018. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the wake of the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today declared an emergency situation, which allows insurance companies to use out-of-state adjusters to help handle the large volume of claims resulting from the Camp and Woolsey Fires.