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, October 21, please email me at michaelb@iii.org.
PROPUBLICA POSTS ARTICLE ON ‘CORPORATE AMERICA’S CAMPAIGN TO DITCH WORKERS’ COMP’
ProPublica and National Public Radio (NPR) co-authored an article reporting that in Texas and Oklahoma, companies have been allowed to opt out of the state’s traditional workers compensation system.
NEARLY 19 MILLION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT SHAKEOUT ON OCTOBER 15, AT 10:15 A.M., ET, FEMA SAYS
The I.I.I. is tweeting out its pictures of The Great Shakeout’s earthquake preparedness drills using the hashtag #GreatShakeout and the handles @ShakeOut and @FEMA. Citing FEMA, Reuters reported nearly 19 million Americans registered for the drills.
CNBC CITES THE I.I.I. IN SEGMENT ON CYBER RISK INSURANCE COVERAGE
The I.I.I.’s Bob Hartwig spoke with CNBC’s Mary Thompson for this Monday, October 12, story, in which the I.I.I. was named on-air as one of CNBC’s sources.
CBS COVERS JURY VERDICT IN MILWAUKEE GUN STORE CASE AND AFTERMATH OF ICE CREAM COMPANY’S LISTERIA OUTBREAK
A Milwaukee County jury ordered a gun store to pay nearly $6 million to two police officers wounded by guns purchased from the store. CBS also aired an investigative piece on Blue Bell ice cream’s potential liability in a fatal listeria outbreak.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The Wall Street Journal’s Leslie Scism is preparing a story on the pros and cons of usage-based auto insurance policies as well as a blog item on new cyber insurance products.
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters spoke with The New Jersey Record’s Elisa Ung about how an insurance dispute kept a small restaurant from opening quickly, after a car crashed into the business.
CAPITOL HILL
Former U.S. Senator Ben Nelson is stepping down as chief executive officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) effective January 31, 2016. Senator Nelson joined the NAIC in January 2013.
STATES
Alabama
Washington County, in the southwestern part of the state, had the most tornado watches in the U.S. between 1993-2012, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Arizona
Andy Tobin, a former state House Speaker, has been appointed director of the Arizona Department of Insurance.
California
The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz and Elianne González joined the University of Southern California (USC) Earthquake Center’s Tweet Chat [#ShakeOutChat] today (October 14) at 2 p.m., ET.
Commissioner Dave Jones announced the Department of Insurance’s approval of a MetLife Auto & Home policy aimed at Lyft drivers.
Connecticut
Home insurers were ordered not to issue either cancellation or non-renewal notices to homeowners due to a residence’s crumbling foundation, an issue that has been covered for months by NBC’s Hartford affiliate.
Florida
Two people died after a small plane crashed into a mobile home park in Lake Worth, about three miles north of Palm Beach County Park airport, on Tuesday evening, October 13.
The I.I.I.’s Lynne McChristian was quoted in Mansion Global, discussing flood and homeowners insurance in a piece on what to consider before buying residential real estate in Miami.
The Office of Insurance Regulation authorized four insurers to remove up to 140,000 personal residential policies and 2,500 commercial residential policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in December 2015.
Massachusetts
The I.I.I.’s Hartwig was quoted in a front-page print edition Boston Globe story (Monday, October 12) on reports of home insurer non-renewal notices being issued in the wake of the state’s multiple severe winters.
Mississippi
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran requested from the Interior Secretary information about the Water Resources Council, an entity that has not been Congressionally funded since the early 1980s but met last week to discuss the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard.
Oklahoma
A Tulsa-based company is challenging an Oklahoma Corporation Commission directive from August 2015 to curtail its disposal well injection operations in Payne County.
South Carolina
The number of deaths caused by this month’s severe flooding stands at 19, according to FEMA (see slide #3).
The Department of Insurance has issued a catastrophe claims data call to insurers. All insurers must report to the Department by Monday, October 19, the claims they have received through Wednesday, October 14.
At least 12,000 vehicles were flooded this month, estimated Department of Insurance Director Ray Farmer, who said the cumulative payout for auto insurers in the state could be upwards of $100 million.
The I.I.I. issued a news release offering claims filing tips to South Carolinians.
Wyoming
The Station Fire (Natrona County) burned thousands of acres, imperiling hundreds of homes, east of Casper.
MEDIA MATTERS
Al Roker has returned to The Weather Channel for a mobile-only series called The Lift. Accessible from TWC’s home screen app from 6 to 11 a.m., it will consist of six-to-eight clips focused on breaking weather, science and nature stories.
Gannett is buying the parent company of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for $280 million.
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
For an I.I.I. Blog search, click here.
