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 9th, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
I.I.I.’s CEO To Testify Before U.S. Senate Panel On ‘Insurance Fraud In America: Current Issues Facing Industry And Consumers
The I.I.I.’s Sean Kevelighan is addressing on Thursday morning, August 3, the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security.
I.I.I. Satellite Media Tour (SMT) Is Friday, August 4
The I.I.I.’s Kevelighan and Jeanne Salvatore will be joined by I.I.I./Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach for interviews in 25-plus TV markets with exposure to hurricanes and flooding.
Wells Fargo To Pay $80 Million In Auto Insurance Refunds To 570,000 Customers
The issue is related to auto Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) policies sold to Wells Fargo Dealers Services auto loan customers, the bank announced on Thursday, July 27.
Western U.S. Wildfires Have Led To Extensive Flooding This Summer, Wall Street Journal Reports
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah became vulnerable to flash flooding after wildfires exposed land is now speeding water flow after heavy rainfalls, a Monday, July 31, WSJ print-edition article explained.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The Wall Street Journal’s Ruth Simon is preparing a story on what small businesses need in the way of flood insurance.
Consumers Reports’ online reporter Octavio Blanco is examining whether a home insurer can deny a claim if a policyholder is burglarized after publicizing via social media that they are on vacation.
News 12 Brooklyn, New York, cable TV on-air reporter Paula Vasan is weeks away from airing a segment on rate evasion, instances in which a vehicle is registered in another state to save on auto insurance costs.
Cars.com’s James Travers is readying an article on whether a private-passenger policy covers instances in which vehicle damage was caused by the policyholder’s drag-racing.
Consumers Reports’ Anthony Giorgianni is gathering facts and statistics on the number of U.S. auto crashes reported each year.
CAPITOL HILL
Auditor Matt Rosendale, elected last year to a four-year term as Montana’s insurance regulator, said this week that he will seek the Republican nomination to run against U.S. Senator Jon Tester in 2018.
STATES
California
The I.I.I.’s California Issues Subcommittee is meeting at 1201 K Street, in Sacramento, on Tuesday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The dial-in number is 1-866-579-6869, Code: 258013#
The biggest gas storage facility in the West has resumed operations nearly two years after a blowout led to the U.S.’s largest-known methane release and drove thousands of families from their Los Angeles homes.
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) announced it added 18,804 CEA policies in the first half of 2017, bringing its total policy count statewide to more than 950,000.
Delaware
Private-passenger auto insurers may not raise a policyholder’s rate upon renewal based solely on the fact they have reached the age of 75, according to a law Governor John Carney signed this week.
Florida
Tropical Storm Emily brought heavy rains to the state soon after making landfall in the Tampa area. It became a tropical depression while moving eastward.
An EF-0 tornado caused property damage after it touched down in Bradenton (Manatee County) on Monday, July 31.
The I.I.I.’s Lynne McChristian discussed flood insurance in a GateHouse Media story on how rising sea levels could impact Florida’s coastal communities. It appeared in multiple daily newspapers.
Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) assessed how auto insurers have since 2003 been allowed to use credit-based insurance scores as a rating criterion, and what it means for consumers.
AJC columnist Bill Torpy offered a harsh assessment of Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens’ six-plus years in office. Hudgens previously announced he was not seeking re-election in 2018.
Louisiana
A year after 35,000-plus Baton Rouge area homes were flooded—about 10 percent of them deemed “substantially damaged”—there is a debate over how to rebuild these residences, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.
Minnesota
Two people are unaccounted for after an explosion earlier today (August 2) partially collapsed a building at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.
Missouri
Four to seven inches of rain fell late last week in Kansas City, causing extensive flash flooding.
Montana
The federal government is allocating funds to help the state extinguish the Lodgepole Complex Fire, according to Governor Steve Bullock.
Nebraska
Federal funding is available to municipalities in 18 counties to repair or replace properties damaged by severe weather between June 12-17, 2017.
New York
The state’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) issued a circular letter to the industry on the claims arising out of this summer’s Lake Ontario flooding.
North Carolina
A power outage prompted the mandatory evacuation of thousands from the Outer Banks. NBC’s Washington, D.C., affiliate explored whether travel insurance could help visitors whose trips were canceled.
Ohio
An 18-year-old man was killed, and scores were injured, after the Fire Ball ride malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus on Wednesday, July 26.
Utah
Four people died when a small plane crashed in Riverdale, closing down most lanes of Interstate 15 about 35 miles north of Salt Lake City for several hours.
Salt Lake City homes and schools were flooded, especially those nearest the Jordan River, after the city received two-plus inches of rain in only a few hours on Wednesday, July 26.
West Virginia
Governor Jim Justice declared a state of emergency in eight counties after those communities incurred heavy flooding late last week.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
I.I.I.’s Hurricane Season Tool Kit
The I.I.I. will be promoting its hurricane preparation and resilience tips across social throughout August as the Atlantic hurricane season traditionally nears its peak. The I.I.I.’s Hurricane Season Tool Kit is available to members and upon request. Use the hashtag #HurricaneSeason, #HurricaneStrong, and #ItOnlyTakesOne to join hurricane-related discussions, and follow @NHC_Atlantic for regular hurricane updates.
Follow the I.I.I.’s SMT, Friday, August 4
Can follow the I.I.I.’s satellite media tour participants on Twitter at @III_SeanK, @JeanneSalvatore, and @philklotzbach.
MEDIA MATTERS
Contessa Brewer has joined CNBC as a full-time general assignment reporter.
Eileen Ambrose has joined Kiplinger’s Personal Finance as senior editor to lead coverage of retirement issues. Ambrose was most recently with AARP.
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.
