To recap the issues raised during today’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, January 22, please email me at michaelb@iii.org.
I.I.I.’s RELEASES ON THE INSURANCE IMPLICATIONS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL, RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES, GET WIDESPREAD PICK-UP
The Weather Channel, for instance, cited this Thursday, January 2, news release and other media outlets ran with information from this Tuesday, January 7, I.I.I. statement.
I.I.I. AND MUNICH RE OFFER INSIGHTS, ANALYSIS ON 2013’s NATURAL CATASTROPHES DURING TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 WEBINAR
Fifteen journalists listened in, and USA Today published an article on Munich Re’s findings. All of the webinar presentations are archived online.
THE NUMBER OF SELF-DRIVING CARS ON HIGHWAYS WORLDWIDE WILL GROW SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN 2025 AND 2035, STUDY PREDICTS
Michigan-based IHS Automotive’s study was released on Thursday, January 2, and generated stories in major media outlets, such as USA Today and The Los Angeles Times.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Bob Hartwig spoke with The Wall Street Journal’s Ruth Simon (212-416-2266, email: ruth.simon@wsj.com) about workers compensation insurance, workplace safety, and what trends insurers are seeing in those fields that impact businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Simon, a senior special writer, is looking to develop stories on these issues and appears open to hearing from sources who can provide insights along the lines of those featured in this 2006 Rand study.
The I.I.I.’s Elianne González taped an interview with Univision, Channel 41 (NY/NJ), regarding the insurance implications of renting out a home to Super Bowl tourists.
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore gave an interview to Washington, D.C.’s NBC affiliate on cold-weather loss mitigation and coverage issues.
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters discussed with The Chicago Tribune’s Becky Yerak how the auto insurance industry may evolve as driverless cars become more prevalent.
The I.I.I.’s Mike Barry gave an interview to The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News’ Jeff Frantz about the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act of 2012.
The Omaha, Nebraska World-Herald will soon publish a disaster preparedness article, citing the I.I.I.’s free consumer-oriented information and apps.
CAPITOL HILL
U.S. Senator Thomas Coburn (R-Oklahoma), and a number of his Senate colleagues, want the Social Security Administration to improve its management of the nation’s Death Master File (DMF), according to this Wednesday, January 8, story in Tulsa World.
The Wall Street Journal reported late last week that a new, bipartisan farm bill proposal, to be released this month, will call for changes to the federal crop insurance program.
STATES
California
The Red (Humboldt County) and Campbell (Tehema County) Fires have recently burned a combined 1,000 acres, according to this Monday, January 6, San Francisco Chronicle article.
A Santa Clara judge ordered Sherwin Williams, National Lead, and ConAgra to pay $1.15 billion to remove lead paint from homes, the AP reported, on Tuesday, January 7.
Venice, Wilmington and San Pedro are the communities most vulnerable to coastal sea level rises, a USC study found, according to this Tuesday, January 7, Los Angeles Times story.
Pegged to the 20th anniversary of the earthquake (Friday, January 17, 2014), a Northridge 20 Symposium is being held on the UCLA campus on January 16-17, 2014.
Florida
Jeff Atwater, the state’s Chief Financial Officer, may leave office to become president of Florida Atlantic University, according to this Saturday, January 4, Miami Herald story.
The I.I.I.’s Lynne McChristian taped an interview with Fort Myers’s CBS affiliate to discuss the charges against a Lee County, Florida resident in this Manhattan district attorney indictment.
Indiana
FEMA denied on Tuesday, January 7, the state’s appeal for federal assistance to six counties that were hit by severe storms, high winds and tornadoes on November 17, 2013.
Louisiana
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) will release storm surge maps during the 2014 hurricane season, according to this Tuesday, January 7, New Orleans Times-Picayune article.
The U.S. Senate may vote next week on the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, legislation aimed at modifying the Biggert-Waters flood law, the Times-Picayune reports.
Montana
Lewis and Clark County’s Commissioners signed a resolution favoring firefighter safety over property protection during wildfires, this Monday, December 30, Missoulian story says.
North Carolina
Home insurance premium rates statewide would increase an average of 25.3 percent, starting in August 2014, if the Insurance Department were to approve this Friday, January 3, rate filing.
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said the North Carolina Rate Bureau should withdraw its filing, and criticized the group for submitting the request on a Friday afternoon.
Ohio
Having led the U.S. in metal theft insurance claims, the state is developing a database aimed at tracking down metal thieves, the Marion Star reported, on Friday, January 3.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
The Polar Vortex was the main topic of conversation over the past week. Many insurance companies, news organizations, bloggers and journalists posted tips on staying warm, protecting your home from frozen pipes, etc. A popular tweet from NBC depicted a map listing wind chill temperatures across the U.S., which was retweeted over 660 times.
The subject of driverless cars continues to garner social media interest. The aforementioned report from IHS Automotive, stating that millions of driverless cars will be on the world’s highways in about 20 years, was picked up widely by both traditional and social media. At this week’s annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, products associated with driverless cars were among those causing the biggest buzz in the social media world.
The I.I.I.’s online statistic about how winter storms caused 7.1 percent of all natural catastrophe-caused U.S. insurance claims payouts (1993-2012) was popular in social media, having been clicked on 40 times since last week.
MEDIA MATTERS
Christine Romans has been named co-host of CNN’s Early Start which airs live on weekdays from 5 to 6 a.m., ET. Romans replaces Zoraida Sambolin, who left CNN last month.
The Loudest Voice in the Room, an unauthorized biography of Fox News Channel chief Roger Ailes, will be released on Tuesday, January 21.
CNN’s Jeff Zucker told Ad Age, in this Monday, January 6, article, that changes are coming to CNN’s prime-time schedule in 2014.
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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