If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, July 26th, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
I.I.I.’s August Satellite Media Tour
On Friday, August 4, the I.I.I.’s Sean Kevelighan and Jeanne Salvatore will be joined by I.I.I./Colorado State University Hurricane Expert, Phil Klozbach, for television interviews on hurricane preparedness and insurance.
The Weather Channel Says Current Heat Wave Is A ‘Ring Of Fire’
The heat wave is raising concerns about thunderstorms in multiple U.S. states.
The Costliest U.S. Natural Disasters In First Half Of 2017 Occurred In Colorado And Texas
The information was incorporated into a Munich Re report issued earlier this week.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Steve Weisbart briefed Reuters’ Suzanne Barlyn on the current economic conditions in the U.S. property/casualty markets in advance of her coverage of upcoming earnings announcements.
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters spoke with NBC News contributing writer Nicole Spector about Wallet Hub’s study on the link between credit-based insurance scores and auto costs.
The I.I.I.’s Michael Barry was interviewed by Kiplinger Retirement Report’s Eleanor Laise about what people in their 50s and 60s ought to consider when assessing their auto and home insurance needs.
CAPITOL HILL
The U.S. Forest Service is blocking the use of a plane that would be more effective than the aircraft used currently to fight U.S. wildfires, a Monday, July 17, a CBS News story reported. Global Supertanker is the company CBS examined.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Democrat Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have released a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for six years.
The Wall Street Journal said a new report outlines what went wrong after Superstorm Sandy struck and how federal, state and local governments can improve their recovery efforts.
The U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce subcommittee approved a proposal allowing automakers to deploy up to 100,000 self-driving vehicles without meeting existing auto safety standards.
STATES
Arizona
Nine people died after a flash flood in Tonto National Park, near Payson. One man is missing.
California
The Detwiler Fire (Mariposa County) has burned thousands of acres and prompted residential evacuations in communities such as Bear Valley, Hunters Valley and Mount Bullion.
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones was a passenger aboard a July 7 Air Canada flight in San Francisco which is now being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Florida
The New York Times explored why the Sunshine State is hit by so many lightning strikes.
The sinkhole that swallowed two homes in Pasco County has stopped growing, and the Associated Press says the homeowners had insurance. Tampa Bay’s CBS affiliate says homeowners in the area are concerned about their property damage. Tampa Bay’s Fox affiliate said protecting yourself from sinkholes comes down to doing your research.
A Miami Herald article says homeowners are not too confident about their insurers, and a few insurers are finding it too expensive to continue their current business in South Florida due to assignment of benefits (AOB) abuse.
Georgia
Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens announced he will not seek re-election to his current post in 2018. Hudgens was first elected in 2010, and is now serving his second four-year term.
Hawaii
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is calling for the installation of sprinkler systems in all of the city’s high-rise buildings after three people died when a fire broke out on the 26th floor of a residential building.
Illinois
The I.I.I. ‘s Worters spoke with Chicago’s WGN-TV about flood insurance, and the I.I.I.’s Barry discussed the same issue with The Chicago Tribune.
Louisiana
Louisiana State University (LSU) will be involved in two of four projects financed through $10.8 million in Gulf Research Program grants. The research will focus on enhancing the science and practice of resilience in coastal communities.
Nearly 6 percent of the state’s entire housing stock could be underwater by 2100, according to a study issued last month by Zillow. The real estate website’s findings were critiqued last week in a Baton Rouge Advocate story.
FEMA’s NFIP paid out more than $400,000 in flood claims over the years on a Batchelor (Pointe Coupee Parish) home with a market value of about $55,000, the Washington Post found.
Nebraska
Governor Pete Ricketts requested a major federal disaster declaration for the severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds of June 12-17, 2017. Eighteen counties were impacted.
Nevada
The Oil Well Fire (Elko County) is burning in and around the communities of Osino and Whiterock but the mandatory evacuation orders for about 1,000 people have been lifted.
New Jersey
Peqannock (Morris County) was the dateline on a Washington Post flood insurance story focusing on homes that have had multiple flood claims.
New York
A New York City woman’s lawsuit against her renters insurer stemmed from a denied claim.
Oklahoma
Two earthquakes—one a 4.2-magnitude and the other a 3.8—were recorded near Stroud, about 55 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, on Friday morning, July 14. No property damage was reported.
Wisconsin
The contents of a bank vault were flooded in Burlington (Racine County).
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
#DetwilerFire
Multiple communities in Mariposa County, California, are under evacuation orders as the Detwiler Fire was only 7 percent contained as of earlier today (July 19) and is threatening nearly 5,000 homes. Follow ABC30 Fresno at @ABC30 and @CAL_FIRE for frequent fire updates.
#100DeadliestDays
The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz will be live-tweeting today from a CSAA press conference in Sacramento on teen driver safety. Use the hashtag #100DeadliestDays to monitor the conversation and follow Ruiz at @InsuringCAL.
MunichRe Report Examines First-Half 2017 Natural Catastrophes
It can be found at @MunichRe_US. Use the hashtag #NatCat2017 for additional insights on the report.
MEDIA MATTERS
Discovery Communications is in talks to combine with Scripps Networks Interactive, according to a front-page story in today’s (July 19) Wall Street Journal.
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.
