To recap the issues raised during this week’s conference call, here are the key media stories we discussed, and the messages we’re conveying.
If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, April 26th, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
CHICAGO’S CBS AFFILIATE AND NEW YORK CITY’S NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) OUTLET AIR STORIES BASED ON PROPUBLICA FINDINGS
WBBM-TV’s Dorothy Tucker reported on ProPublica’s auto insurance story on Monday, April 17, while WNYC-FM conducted a live interview with ProPublica’s Julia Angwin on Tuesday, April 18.
TEXAS’ INSURANCE COMMISSIONER DIES
David Mattax passed away on Thursday, April 13. He was 60 years old and had been elected to serve in 2016 as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Secretary-Treasurer.
I.I.I., SWISS RE CONDUCTING JOINT WEBINAR ON THURSDAY, APRIL 27, AT 11 A.M., ET
Since the call, the I.I.I. issued a media advisory with details on the one-hour presentation, which will focus on 2016’s global natural catastrophes.
NEW YORK TIMES’ SUNDAY MAGAZINE EXAMINES THE FLOOD RISKS POSED BY RISING SEA LEVELS
The NY Times’ Sunday, April 23, print edition article focuses on the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which includes Norfolk.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Michael Barry taped an interview this week with Salt Lake City, Utah’s CBS affiliate regarding the use of after-market parts in damaged vehicles. The tentative air date on KUTV is Thursday, May 4.
Anne Freedman, the Philadelphia-based managing editor of Risk & Insurance, is writing a preview of the Risk Management Society’s (RIMS) annual conference, which gets underway on Sunday, April 23.
CAPITOL HILL
President Trump signed into law yesterday (April 18) The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (House Resolution 353).
The president held a White House ceremony last week to salute the first responders called to the scene of Interstate 85’s fire last month in Atlanta. The blaze resulted in a bridge collapse and shut down a major thoroughfare.
STATES
Alabama
Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling is expected to remain in his current post following the resignation last week of Governor Robert Bentley. Bentley was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey.
Colorado
Denver’s ABC affiliate broadcast a segment on Thursday, April 13, on rising flood insurance rates, and linked to FEMA’s flood maps from the station’s website.
Florida
Wildfires in the central part of the state prompted the state’s Highway Patrol to close three major roads—ones near Orlando and Cocoa, and another in Lake County—due to poor visibility.
A panel of experts addressed a U.S. Senate committee hearing in West Palm Beach with concerns about climate change and rising sea levels.
An EF-2 tornado swept through Okeechobee County last week, destroying three homes. The Palm Beach Post has more details here.
Hurricane Matthew hit six months ago, and the Daytona Beach News-Journal is finding that numerous Atlantic coast communities are still dealing with the aftermath.
The St. Augustine Record reports places like Vilano Beach and Davis Shores (St. John’s County) are filled with empty homes damaged by Matthew in October 2016.
Illinois
State Senators Jacqueline Collins and Dan Biss said auto insurers should not be allowed to use credit-based insurance scores (SB 1706) when pricing policies during a Wednesday, April 19, interview on Chicago’s WVON-AM.
Louisiana
No other part of the U.S. is sinking as fast as Louisiana, according to an updated assessment of sea level rise by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise and Garret Graves are closely tracking the reauthorization debate in Congress regarding FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Times-Picayunereports.
Navigating the National Flood Insurance Program, a free seminar, was held yesterday (April 18) in Baton Rouge. The target audience was NFIP policyholders impacted by the August 2016 flooding.
Missouri
Lawmakers passed statewide regulations for ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft last Thursday, opening the door for the companies to expand throughout the state.
New Jersey
A fire spread to multiple residential buildings, causing extensive property damage, in Paterson (Passaic County) on Friday, April 14.
New York
The Riverhead Town Board (Suffolk County) wants to impose municipal accident response fees effective May 1, 2017, according to an article published this week in Newsday.
SOCIAL MEDIA
National Hurricane Conference (April 17-20)
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore and Lynne McChristian are at the 2017 National Hurricane Conference (NHC) in New Orleans this week.
McChristian moderated a discussion on hurricane deductibles earlier today (April 19) and was also on a panel which looked back at 1992’s Hurricane Andrew.
Salvatore is speaking about FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) during a session being held tomorrow (April 20).
To follow the conversation on social, use the hashtag #NHC2017 and follow McChristian for updates at @InsuringFLA on Twitter.
In addition, the I.I.I. website’s home page is currently highlighting hurricane preparedness content.
New York Times Sunday Magazine article on coastal flood risks
The Brooke Jarvis NYT story about rising seas and flood risk has generated strong interest and heavy sharing on social.
The article can be found online by visiting @NYTmag or by following Ms. Jarvis at @BrookeJarvis on Twitter.
MEDIA MATTERS
Bill O’Reilly will not return to Fox News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor.
