Florida residents may not be ready for the financial losses a natural disaster such as a hurricane could cause. In 2018, they caused $160 billion in damage throughout the country. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there have been...
Hurricane Damage Claims
State funds to aid Keys’ hurricane recovery
The Florida Keys will receive a new influx of funds to help the islands recover from Hurricane Irma. According to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Keys will receive $21 million to help deal with hurricane damage and an additional $35 million investment in affordable housing....
Insurance law changed to curb assignment of benefits practice
Lawmakers in Florida approved a plan designed to restructure and lessen the importance of assignment of benefits, a common practice in the state's insurance industry. The Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which is backed by the state, faces thousands of lawsuits...
New Florida initiative provides hurricane preparations
In order to help residents prepare for the next major hurricane that will inevitably make landfall, the Florida Chief Financial Officer started the Prepare Florida initiative. Even in a state where hurricanes make landfall somewhat regularly, many homeowners and other...
Congress extends flood insurance program
Florida homeowners have found some temporary relief after the House of Representatives approved a two-week extension of the federal flood insurance program on May 30. This comes after the Senate approved the extension by voice vote the week before. While this vote...
Survey shows concern about upcoming Florida hurricane season
After several large storms have battered the region in three years, the American Automobile Association surveyed 400 Florida residents to measure their concern about this year's hurricane season that generally starts at the beginning of June. An overwhelming 92% of...
FEMA urges people to buy flood insurance before hurricane season
The Federal Emergency Management Agency still has open disaster events throughout Florida in the Panhandle and Keys from last year. With the 2019 hurricane season about to begin, FEMA's chief executive of the National Flood Insurance Program publicly called for people...
Bill would update surplus lines regulations in Florida
A bill that would modify Florida insurance rules has been moved on to the governor's office for signature following its passage by state legislators. The bill includes a number of provisions related to insurance. It would increase the amount of reimbursement from the...
Get ready for an insurance claim before a storm hits
For some homeowners in Florida, the aftermath of a hurricane or other natural disaster may be the hardest part of the storm to get through. However, the process of filing an insurance claim and having it approved doesn't have to be a negative experience. Prior to...
Florida changes regulations affecting hurricane insurance
In the wake of damage caused by hurricanes that wreak havoc across the state of Florida, residents often sign over their insurance benefits to contractors while on the road to recovery. This practice can often lead to abuse according to many advocates. The state...