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, June 7th, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
I.I.I. TO ISSUE NEWS RELEASE AS ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON STARTS
The Thursday, June 1, news release will focus on insurance coverage and preparedness.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENVISIONS 11 TO 17 NAMED STORMS IN 2017
The forecast was made by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
TEXAS, COLORADO, & NEBRASKA HAD MOST HAIL CLAIMS IN U.S. (2014-2016)
Texas (28 percent), Colorado (10 percent), and Nebraska (7 percent) accounted for 45 percent of all the hail loss claims in the U.S. over that three-year period, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters is working with CNBC for an insurance story tomorrow (June 1) pegged to the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore spoke with Consumer Reports about perils which are often not covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy (e.g., expensive jewelry, animal infestation).
The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz was interviewed by the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Hang Nguyen for an upcoming story about insurance coverage for wildfires, floods, and earthquakes.
The New York Times’ Ron Lieber is preparing an article on car-sharing and insurance coverage.
InsuranceQuotes.com’s Nick DiUlio is readying a story on how auto insurance rate increases vary when a policyholder has a moving violation, depending upon their state of residence.
CAPITOL HILL
The U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn a lower court decision in Montana that permitted plaintiffs from out-of-state to file lawsuits for injuries that occur anywhere within a defendant’s areas of operation.
The Wall Street Journal’s editors (subscription page) praised yesterday (May 30) the Trump administration’s efforts to reform the federal workers’ disability system.
The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) Carry Guard insurance policy was the subject of a Politico story last weekend.
STATES
California
The importance of building materials on San Diego County wildland urban interface fires was the subject of a research paper issued by the California Fire Science Consortium.
Tesloop, a service which uses Tesla cars to transport customers between cities, is prompting auto insurers to revisit the way they write their policies, Business Insider says.
Insurtech Caught on the Radar: Hype or the Next Frontier is the name of a 52-page report released this month on the topic.
Connecticut
The Hartford Courant posted back-to-back editorials (May 28-29) on the region’s crumbling home foundations. Both of them touched briefly on homeowners insurance coverage limitations.
Florida
The impact of 1992’s Hurricane Andrew can still be felt in the southern part of the state, according to The Sun-Sentinel.
Tampa Bay is ground zero for assignment of benefits (AOB) cases over damaged auto glass claims, says the Tampa Bay Times. The paper also had an editorial on the AOB “insurance mess” that legislators ignored.
Miami’s National Public Radio (NPR) outlet used the start of hurricane season to do a report asking if schools are getting a fair deal on property insurance.
Louisiana
Thirteen people were arrested last week for allegedly participating in a staged automobile accident ring in the southwestern part of the state.
A bill requiring law enforcement officers to check a driver’s insurance electronically before having them reach into the vehicle’s glove compartment during a traffic stop has cleared the House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee.
Missouri
Two people died, and another is missing, after floodwaters swept through Branson last weekend (May 27-28).
New York
A seven-mile long seawall in Staten Island is being built with $151 million in state monies.
Oklahoma
Federal assistance is available to local governments in the 18 counties affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from April 28-May 2, 2017.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has agreed to make low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses in a number of these same counties for property damage which was not covered by insurance, Governor Mary Fallin announced.
South Dakota
Five people died when a car collided head-on with a semi-tractor trailer on Saturday, May 27, near Wanblee, which is about 100 miles southeast of Rapid City.
Tennessee
Severe storms caused Memphis-area property damage and widespread power outages.
MEDIA MATTERS
Scott Pelley is reportedly being pushed out as anchor of CBS’s Evening News. CBS has since issued a news release saying Pelley will work full-time at CBS’s 60 Minutes.
CNBC is building its investigative journalism team.
Jury selection is set to start in a defamation case over ABC News’ 2012 report on a South Dakota meat producer’s beef product.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined a Jacksonville, Florida, TV station $55,000 for improperly using an official Emergency Alert System.
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.
