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, September 20, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
Hurricane Irma May Have Caused $20-$40 Billion In Insured Claim Payouts
Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday, September 10, and will likely be considered one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, according to AIR Worldwide.
The I.I.I.’s Lynne McChristian has handled dozens of inquiries from Florida media outlets and hosted a Facebook Live event today (September 13) on Irma-related coverage issues.
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters and Jeanne Salvatore gave live Irma interviews to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), respectively.
The I.I.I.’s Michael Barry conducted a live interview on Irma’s insurance implications and historical significance on the Fox Business Network’s ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast.’
The I.I.I.’s Bill Davis and the South Carolina Insurance Association’s Russ Dubisky briefed the group on the latest Irma news from Georgia and South Carolina, respectively.
The I.I.I. Blog has been regularly updated with both consumer and industry content related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) Received 55,000-Plus Harvey Claims; FEMA Has Set Up Mobile Centers
Texas/FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers opened yesterday (September 12) at the Wharton Civic Center in Wharton and on Monday, September 11, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
Reuters’ Suzanne Barlyn is readying a story that will be pegged to Harvey-impacted commercial policyholders who are critical of business interruption coverage.
The Wall Street Journal’s Adam Janofsky will likely quote the I.I.I.’s Claire Wilkinson in a story next week (September 18-22) on cyber insurance trends.
NY1, New York City’s all-news cable channel, is preparing a multi-part series for broadcast in late October on Superstorm Sandy’s fifth anniversary.
CAPITOL HILL
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been extended until Friday, December 8. It was to have expired on Saturday, September 30.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) said it would keep a hands-off approach toward regulating self-driving cars even as Tesla’s technology was faulted yesterday (September 12) in a federal investigation into a fatal Tesla car crash.
STATES
California
The Helena Fire (Trinity County) has burned 20,000 acres and destroyed 72 homes. Nearly 4,000 residences remain threatened, according to today’s (September 13) FEMA Bulletin.
The Western U.S. had a snowy winter, so why the fiery summer? The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz was quoted in this Associated Press story.
Has Climate Change Intensified 2017’s Western Wildfires? Park Williams of Columbia University says yes.
Montana
The Strawberry Fire has burned 10,000-plus acres in Flathead, Pondera and Teton counties since it began on Friday, August 25. Nearly 100 people have been evacuated.
The Alice Creek Fire (Lewis & Clark County), Highway 200 (Sanders County), Moose Peak (Sanders/Lincoln County), Rice Ridge (Missoula & Powell Counties) and West Fork Fires (Lincoln County) are threatening hundreds of homes, FEMA reports.
New York
The state agreed to pay $22 million to a boxer who was severely injured in a New York City bout years ago at Madison Square Garden.
Oregon
Six homes were destroyed by the Chetco Bar Fire (Curry County), which has now burned in excess of 185,000 acres.
Four homes were destroyed by the Eagle Creek Fire (Hook River County), and the wildfire is still threatening thousands more homes.
Washington
The Jolly Mountain (Kittitas County) Fire has burned more than 32,000 acres and was only 15 percent contained as of early this week.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
The I.I.I. Hosts Facebook Live Event
The I.I.I.’s Tallahassee-based McChristian answered insurance coverage and recovery questions pertaining to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on Wednesday, September 13, at noon, ET. The video is on the I.I.I.’s Facebook page and can be shared with your followers.
Facebook, Twitter users drawn to I.I.I. content on insurance adjusters, claim-filing tips
Since Harvey made landfall in late August, the I.I.I.’s Facebook page has received 43,000 Facebook views and 3,000 engagements on Twitter. Of particular interest is content that provides tips on how to interact with an insurance adjuster and how to file a claim.
MEDIA MATTERS
CNN was the most-watched cable news channel during the latest storm, according to preliminary Hurricane Irma Nielsen ratings.
The New York Times published a lengthy story on how The Weather Channel was covering Hurricanes Harvey & Irma.
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.
