If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, June 28th, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) Unveils New Catastrophe Response Initiative
The NICB is now gathering state-of-the-art digital intelligence after a natural disaster to provide essential property damage information to insurers, law enforcement, and first responders. More information about the initiative is in this video. NICB Chief Operating Officer Jim Schweitzer (email: jschweitzer@nicb.org, phone: 847-544-7040) can answer any I.I.I. member company questions about the program.
Former I.I.I. President Mechlin Moore Dies At The Age Of 87
Moore was the head of the Insurance Information Institute between 1979 and 1991. A resident of Rye, New York, he died on Tuesday, June 13.
Tornadoes Cause Extensive Property Damage In Eastern Nebraska; Storm System Also Impacted Western Iowa
One of the six Nebraska tornadoes touched down near Bellevue, a suburb of Omaha, on Friday, June 16. Griswold and Lewis, Iowa (Cass County) was also hit by high winds on that same day.
Florida, Texas, And Georgia Were The Top Three States For Lightning Claims In 2016
The I.I.I. issued a news release on lightning-caused insurance claims in advance of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 18-24).
STORIES IN THE WORKS
Wade Millward of The Las Vegas Review-Journal and Carrie Teegardin of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution are preparing stories on the factors driving up the cost of auto insurance in their states.
Stacey Burling of the Philadelphia Inquirer is writing an article for publication next month on why auto insurers often charge policyholders aged 70-plus more for coverage.
CAPITOL HILL
Brock Long won U.S. Senate confirmation to become FEMA’s next Administrator.
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page praised a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week (Bristol-Myers Squibb v. Superior Court of California, San Francisco County), saying it will combat “legal forum shopping.”
Republican candidates retained two vacant U.S. House seats in special elections held this week in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District (CD) and South Carolina’s 5th CD.
STATES
Alabama
The storm surge from Tropical Storm Cindy contributed to the death of a 10-year-old boy in Fort Morgan (Baldwin County) on Wednesday, June 21.
The I.I.I.’s Michael Barry appeared in a Birmingham ABC affiliate segment on the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) on Monday, June 19.
Arizona
Numerous commercial flights were canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Monday, June 19, and Tuesday, June 20, due to extreme heat.
California
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced he will continue his efforts to have insurers divest voluntarily from coal while also asking them to disclose publicly their fossil fuel-related investments despite the threat of lawsuits.
The Surplus Lines Association of California testified against a proposed regulation that would require the state’s medical marijuana businesses to purchase coverage only from admitted carriers.
Zenefits, a San Francisco-based human resources software company, has agreed to pay $3.4 million in unpaid overtime to 743 current and former workers following a U.S. Department of Justice (DOL) investigation.
Florida
The I.I.I.’s Florida/Catastrophe subcommittee meeting is being held at Florida State University in Tallahassee on Tuesday, June 27, starting at 9 a.m., ET. To listen in, dial 888-670-3525. The participant code is 9099092799.
A Ft. Myers News-Press editorial called reauthorization of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program a must.
Flood-prone Miami neighborhoods could be relocated amid preparations for rising seas.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jeff Atwater said lawmakers need to address the assignment of benefits (AOB) issue because AOB abuse is driving up homeowners’ insurance rates.
The Lakeland Ledger said even as CFO Atwater called on lawmakers to address AOB, Atwater described the situation as a “balancing act” to cause no consumer harm.
The Palm Beach Post also mentioned Atwater’s push for an AOB bill, and reported Florida’s Association of Restoration Specialists disputes a crisis exists.
Tallahassee’s National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate reports the state’s insurance commissioner is also urging action on AOB.
Louisiana
Tropical Storm Cindy weakened slightly this morning (June 21) even as heavy rains and strong winds were expected to hit the state’s southern portions.
The Louisiana Housing Corporation will administer two programs aimed giving landlords the resources to rebuild the 28,000 rental properties which were flooded statewide in August 2016.
New Mexico
A newspaper editorial board says Albuquerque needs to combat its out-of-control car theft problem.
New York
Temporary, emergency dam systems have been installed in Greece (Monroe County) and Sodus Point (Wayne County) to protect these communities against Lake Ontario’s rising waters.
The I.I.I.’s Barry spoke with Rochester’s CBS affiliate in a Tuesday, June 20, segment about a Hamlin (Monroe County) resident who received a homeowner’s insurance policy cancellation notice.
Oklahoma
The Moore Public Schools announced last week the district and its insurer have agreed to pay about $14,000 to each of the families of seven children who were killed in 2013 when a tornado hit Plaza Towers Elementary School.
Pennsylvania
The I.I.I.’s Barry discussed standard homeowner’s insurance policy exclusions with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review after a skunk caused damage to a residential property in Latrobe (Westmoreland County).
South Carolina
The state Insurance Department is hosting a ‘Storm Ready Expo’ on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Home Depot in Myrtle Beach.
Utah
Governor Gary Herbert says a weed torch started the Brian Head wildfire.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
Tropical Storms Bret and Cindy
The I.I.I. is monitoring the development of Tropical Storms Bret and Cindy. According to Colorado State University (CSU) meteorologist Phil Klotzbach, Bret and Cindy became named storms only 21 hours apart. That is the shortest time between two June named storm formations in the Atlantic on record. You can get storm updates from Klotzbach at @philklotzbach on Twitter as well as from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at @NHC_Atlantic.
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 18-24)
As part of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, the I.I.I. is promoting its lightning safety tips across multiple social media platforms. Join the discussion using the hashtag #LightningSafetyAwarenessWeek and follow the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) at @lightningkim on Twitter.
MEDIA MATTERS David Clark, president of The Weather Channel (TWC) for nearly five years, is leaving TWC to join Comcast as its executive vice president and general manager of Advanced Advertising.
West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Ion Media announced this week its intent to purchase television stations in Boise, Idaho (KTRV-TV), Columbia, S.C. (WZRB-TV), and St. Louis, Mo. (WRBU-TV).
Reuters added two new sections to its website on Monday, June 19. One is devoted to Cyber Risk coverage and the other is on the Future of Money.
