Gabrielle Russon
Following the devastating Hurricane Helene that unleashed winds and water, the state issued an emergency order to protect property owners from losing their insurance.
The emergency order from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation comes as Florida’s insurance industry was already in crisis before the Category 4 Hurricane Helene arrived.
Under the emergency order, insurance companies are not allowed to cancel or not renew policies for properties in the counties affected by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 26 to Nov. 26. The only exception is if property owners themselves request the policies be canceled during the period.
In Florida, the 41 affected counties declared under a state of emergency are Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
“Given the strength and size of Hurricane Helene, its expected catastrophic effect on Florida, and its potential impact on hundreds of thousands of policyholders, the Office expects all authorized insurers, surplus lines insurers, and regulated entities to implement processes and procedures to facilitate the efficient payment of claims,” the emergency order also said. “This includes critically analyzing current procedures and streamlining claim payment processes as well as using the latest technological advances to provide prompt and efficient claims service to policyholders.”
Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a Category 4 storm, unleashing 140 mph winds and a storm surge that caused historic flooding in Tampa Bay and along the Gulf Coast and destroyed homes throughout the state’s Big Bend region.
The hurricane also caused catastrophic flooding, which leveled homes and devastated communities beyond the Sunshine State in Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
At least 125 people died across the South, according to the latest death toll.
On Sunday, Florida’s insurance industry was featured in a CBS News “60 Minutes” segment. The report said an estimated 50,000 homeowners are still battling with their insurance companies to settle claims stemming from 2022’s Hurricane Ian.
4 comments
The Sage "E"
October 1, 2024 at 7:04 am
A greatfull State of Florida extends it’s thankfullness to both Ron & Casey Desantis for their wise leadership in this crisis.
The Sage “E”
Tropical Storm Leslie or Milton
October 1, 2024 at 7:50 am
This storm next week is picking up strength on the forecast model,it might not be a strong hurricane,but it will just as large as Helene,it will be either Leslie or Milton,it will bring back flooding rain to Florida, during the middle of next week,the longer it spend it the Gulf next week can determined how devastating it coming to Florida ,but it coming,I do not want to be the barrier of bad news
Joe
October 1, 2024 at 8:34 am
The real problem is that people who choose to live 5 miles from the beach have to pay the same homeowners’ premiums as people who choose to live beachfront. I wish I could afford beachfront, but I subsidize the homeowners’ premiums of those who made that choice? Thanks Ron (& Casey).
Cynthia Banks
October 1, 2024 at 10:56 pm
The article stating insurance cannot be cancelled states 3 months, but gives dates Sept 26 to Nov 26 th. Shouldn’t that be Dec 26 th?
I hope they don’t cancel people the day after Christmas.!
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