General Hurricane Dispute Information

Speculation on how to save the insurance industry

Published on: June 27, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The recent events in Florida and the exit of various insurance companies from areas surrounding the Gulf Coast have raised a lot of speculation on how to preserve competition within these states while at the same time not forcing the government’s hand to bail out in the event of a disaster. About a month ago The Florida Times-Union wrote on this topic and how drastic the decisions may be to keep a level playing field for residents.

Florida’s property insurance system is a ticking time bomb, one that could wreak havoc on the state’s economy when – that’s when, not if – the next hurricanes hit.

This is because the state-run catastrophic fund, which shares property insurance risks with companies that sell policies here, is egregiously underfunded.

Making yourself familiar with your insurance policy and coverage

Published on: June 26, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

With hurricane season in full swing, it is important for home and property owners to be fully aware and clear about their insurance and coverage, or lack thereof, that it provides. Whether living in a flood plain or tucked safely in a non-flooding area, residents of the Gulf Coast can be affected all the same by a hurricane by the list of dangers such as wind or rain damage. Going through your policy and making sure the proper cover necessary to properly rebuild in the event of storm damage is there will help prevent nasty surprises should the unthinkable happen and serious destruction befalls you.

Tim Engstrom from Southwest Florida’s News-Press has more

Most homeowners – especially those outside high-hazard coastal zones – can find coverage, but it is likely to be with a newer, less-familiar company, said Randy Duncan, an agent with the Insurance Depot of Lee County in Cape Coral.

Revised New Orleans flood-risk maps on display

Published on: June 16, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Per The Times-Picayune

Newly revised Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps showing the potential for flooding caused by a 100-year rainfall and hurricane-strength surge for New Orleans will be available for review and discussion at a Wednesday open house in City Park.

The event will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the City Park Botanical Gardens on Victory Drive.

Upgraded New Orleans storm barrier system to cost $1.8 Billion

Published on: June 9, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

While the Army Corps of Engineers continues to design, build and implement a storm preparedness system that prevents the type of flooding New Orleans saw after Hurricane Katrina, the price has gone shockingly high. Per an Associated Press article, creating a satisfactory system of floodgates and other water barriers will cost nearly two billion dollars, nearly 15% of the budgeted money the area was given to rebuild.

Top brass at the Army Corps of Engineers say the estimated price of a major project to build three floodgates and a 1.8-mile storm surge barrier to protect New Orleans from hurricanes is now $1.8 billion.

The cost of closing off the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal has risen since the project began last year. The structures being built on the eastern flank of New Orleans are among the most important features in the Army Corps’ plan to defend the city against hurricanes.

New Orleans hurricane center still not close to open

Published on: June 6, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In something that will likely not come as a surprise to residents of New Orleans, a planned command center for emergency operations in the event of a hurricane that was scheduled to be ready last Monday is nowhere near ready.

In pictures provided by WWL, the site looks more like a recent renovation than what is supposed to be the nerve center for communications should a devastating storm return to the city.

WWL’s Scott Satchfield reports

Prepare for Hurricane Season

Published on: June 5, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

This weekend is as good a time as any to prepare your family, home, business and/or property for hurricane season. Our blog has featured various tips on how to be ready in the event of a hurricane and what steps you can take to insure you are on solid footing in the aftermath of a storm.

Simply go to the Storm and Hurricane tips section of this blog to find out more information.

Poll indicates Gulf Coast residents STILL not hurricane-ready

Published on: June 2, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In a report by Fox News, most coastal residents are not prepared for hurricane season.

Many Americans who live in Gulf and Atlantic Coast states are not prepared for an active 2009 hurricane season, despite being slammed last year, a new Mason-Dixon poll found.

More than half those surveyed, 66 percent, said they don’t have a hurricane survival kit and 62 percent said they don’t feel vulnerable to a hurricane or related tornado or flooding.

Hurricane Season Has Begun

Published on: June 1, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Today, according to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, marks the beginning of hurricane season.

The Atlantic hurricane season is officially from 1 June to 30 November. There is nothing magical in these dates, and hurricanes have occurred outside of these six months, but these dates were selected to encompass over 97% of tropical activity. June 1st has been the traditional start of the Atlantic hurricane season for decades. However, the end date has been slowly shifted outward, from October 31st to November 15th until its current date of November 30th.

Now, before it’s too late, make sure your insurance premiums are up to date, your coverage is what you wanted and your home plan on emergency preparation is ready. For more information on how to be prepared for storms and hurricanes, check out our blog posts that go over a variety of ways to be prepared in the event of a disaster or tropical storm.

Louisiana moving forward in insurance legislation

Published on: May 21, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The Louisiana senate move forward with changes for Citizens insurance that will hopefully help home and property owners with their coverage and recovery in the event of a hurricane or natural disaster. NOLA.com reports:

The state-run insurer of last resort should have new guidelines to set rates and possibly slow the increase in premiums to homeowners, the Senate decided today.

Approved 30-2, Senate Bill 130 by Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, goes to the House Insurance Committee for more debate.

Gulf Coast Hurricanes serving as a lesson for states nationwide

Published on: May 15, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

While stories have been popping up progressively in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike, one interesting development has been the efforts by lawmakers and citizens for preparedness should an unpredictable catastrophe befall their hometown. States along the Eastern Seaboard have been taking action instituting insurance measures and local disaster drills should an unexpected and devastating hurricane knock on their doorstep.

New Jersey is one of those states, taking it as far as to create a fund that would help make sure homeowners would be protected in the event of a cataclysmic storm:

Today, the Legislature will begin hearings on how to best protect New Jersey homeowners from the devastation of major hurricanes or other natural disasters. This is an important and timely step; the Atlantic hurricane season begins in less than a month and New Jersey is both exposed and vulnerable to those storms.