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, August 24, please email Loretta Worters at lorettaw@iii.org
LOUISIANA’s FLOODS, CALIFORNIA’s WILDFIRES GENERATE NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE
Louisiana: NBC focused on the percentage of impacted Louisiana properties with flood insurance while Governor John Bel Edwards said he wants the president to expand his federal disaster declaration to 20 parishes and estimated at least 40,000 homes were damaged by the flooding. The I.I.I. is inserting FEMA disaster assistance information into its news releases this week, and FEMA is touting the I.I.I.’s Know Your Stuff.
California: CBS reports tens of thousands are evacuating because of The Blue Cut Fire, centered around 45 miles northeast of Los Angeles. In addition, thousands were forced to evacuate their homes because of the Clayton Fire in Lake County, 90 miles north of San Francisco. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department announced yesterday (August 16) the arrest of a 40-year-old man on arson charges related to the Clayton Fire. An estimated 250 homes were evacuated due to the Chimney Fire. Moreover, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency exists three counties: Lake (Clayton Fire), San Bernardino (Blue Cut Fire), and San Luis Obispo (Chimney Fire).
U.S.’s 2016 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON COULD GENERATE THE MOST NAMED STORMS SINCE 2012
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) increased its outlook in a forecast released late last week.
ROAD DEBRIS WAS A FACTOR IN MORE THAN 50,000 U.S. ROADWAY CRASHES BETWEEN 2011-14, STUDY FINDS
Debris-related crashes are four times as likely to occur on interstate highways, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found. CBS This Morning broadcast a segment on the report’s findings.
I.I.I.’s SALVATORE SPEAKING TO LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS IN BOSTON; I.I.I.’s LYNCH ADDRESSING TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore will discuss ‘Identifying Hazards and Mitigation Planning’ at a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) conference on Friday, August 19.
The I.I.I.’s James Lynch is addressing the Insurance Disrupted conference on Thursday, September 8.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Salvatore discussed flood insurance during a live New Orleans’ WWL radio interview as well as with The Wall Street Journal’s Scott Calvert and Consumer Reports’ Tobie Stanger.
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters briefed NBCNews.com’s Ben Popken on flood insurance in Louisiana.
The I.I.I. Michael Barry’s gave flood-related interviews to the Louisiana Radio Network’s Jeff Palermo, the Baton Rouge Advocate’s Ted Griggs, and Politico.com’s Annie Snider.
The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz worked with The Carmel Valley Pine Cone’s Lisa Watson for an article on the Soberanes Fire’s aftermath.
AM Best’s Frank Klimko is readying a piece on insurance industry reaction to the Federal Reserve Board’s proposed capital rules for insurers who are either systematically important or own a bank or a thrift.
CAPITOL HILL
Liz Cheney’s win in yesterday’s Republican U.S. House primary in Wyoming makes her the likely successor to retiring Rep. Cynthia Lummis. Cheney is the 51-year-old daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
STATES
California
Hundreds of homeowners impacted by September 2015’s Valley Fire have yet to recover, the Lake County Record-Bee reports.
The deadly June 2015 Berkeley balcony collapse was invoked by Senate Bill 465’s supporters last week at a state Assembly hearing. The measure would modify the state’s oversight of building contractors.
Colorado
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) warned homeowners and businesses of ‘storm chasers’ following a recent hail storm in Colorado Springs.
Florida Universal Property & Casualty withdrew its request for a home insurance rate increase which would have averaged about 8 percent in Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties.
The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is holding a public hearing on Thursday, August 18, at 9 a.m., in Tallahassee, to discuss Citizens’ Property Insurance Corporation’s proposed rate hikes.
Maine
Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa denied an auto insurer’s bid to raise rates on policyholders aged 65, and older.
Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan requested a presidential disaster declaration to bring federal assistance to Ellicott City (Howard County) following its Saturday, July 30, flood event.
Minnesota
The I.I.I.’s Steve Weisbart gave a live interview on unclaimed life insurance policies to WCCO Radio in Minneapolis, two days after CBS’s 60 Minutes re-broadcast its segment on the issue.
North Carolina
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin’s ties to an unregistered lobbyist were explored in an investigative piece broadcast on Charlotte’s CBS affiliate.
A Raleigh man’s homeowners’ policy was non-renewed after his residence was hit by cars on multiple occasions, Raleigh’s ABC affiliate reports.
Oregon
There is a 15 to 20 percent chance of an earthquake impacting the state in the next 50 years, according to Oregon State University researchers.
Pennsylvania
Thirty-two individuals and three corporations were charged by Philadelphia’s district attorney with participating in an auto theft and insurance fraud ring.
A three-year-old was injured after falling off a roller coaster at Idlewild Park, about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh, on Thursday, August 11.
Wisconsin
Civil unrest in Milwaukee on Saturday night, August 13, led to the burning of businesses and cars.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
Louisiana Floods
The Louisiana floods have received heavy attention on social media this week. You can follow the hashtags #LouisianaFlood, #LAflood, and #BatonRouge. For more updates, follow Louisiana’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness on Twitter at @GOHSEP and the Louisiana Department of Insurance at @LAInsuranceDept.
California Wildfires
The California wildfires can be tracked on social using the hashtags #ClaytonFire, #BlueCutFire, and #ChimneyFire. For more updates, follow California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on Twitter at @CAL_FIRE.
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) #Firewise program is hosting a series of consumer-friendly online workshops to provide information on wildfire-related topics. The next one will be held on Thursday, September 15, and focus on homeowners insurance.
The I.I.I.’s Ruiz’s wrote in her latest Insuring California blog post about Cal Fire’s “One Less Spark” Campaign, an initiative aimed at informing consumers about wildfire prevention and safety.
KYS App
The I.I.I. will continue to promote its Know Your Stuff (KYS) app in the coming weeks through a Facebook ad campaign. And be on the look-out for blog posts about KYS on the I.I.I.’s social media channels. The app can be downloaded from knowyourstuff.org. If you have the opportunity to try it out and like it, please do leave us a positive review in the App store or on Google Play—a good review can greatly help increase the visibility and take-up of the app. And if you have any comments or run into problems, feel free to reach out to Andréa Basora (andreab@iii.org) with your feedback.
MEDIA MATTERS
Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine were named co-presidents of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.
The broadcast weekday morning news program ratings are narrowing, with ABC drawing 4.15 million viewers whereas NBC and CBS are attracting daily audiences of 3.83 million and 3.22 million, respectively.
Brian Williams will reportedly host a new, 11 p.m., ET, weeknight program on MSNBC.
Univision acquired Gawker Media Group for $135 million.
National Public Radio (NPR) is discontinuing its story-page comments section at NPR.org effective Tuesday, August 23.
Adam Davidson is joining The New Yorker effective Tuesday, August 30. He had been The New York Times’ On Money columnist since 2011.
The I.I.I. is cited regularly in the media as an authoritative source of insurance information. To access the current I.I.I. press clips, click here
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