Hurricane Irene, the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, now has its sights set on the Bahamas and the U.S. East Coast.
Irene produced widespread tree and power line damage across Puerto Rico Sunday night into Monday. View Photos
As you can see on our projected path map below, Irene is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher on Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) by early Wednesday as it tracks in the direction of the Bahamas on a path towards the East Coast of the U.S. Friday into the weekend.
Interactive map: Hurricane Irene interactive projected path
TWC’s Exclusive Threat Level for Hurricane Irene
Find out the potential impacts from Hurricane Irene in the Caribbean, Bahamas and the U.S. on The Weather Channel’s exclusive threat level graphics below.
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We have increased the threat level in portions of the central and northern Bahamas to extreme. Hurricane Irene will track from the southern Bahamas to the northern Bahamas Tuesday through early Friday morning. This is a potentially very dangerous situation and preparations should be rushed to completion.
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Coastal portions of the Southeast U.S. remain in a high threat (red shading). This threat level will likely change as forecast confidence increases both in the track and intensity.
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The greatest probability of a U.S. landfall is in the Carolinas during the Friday night through Saturday time frame, possibly as a major hurricane.
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Keep in mind, the average forecast track errors 4-5 days out are between 200 and 250 miles! NHC intensity forecasts even in the 1-2 day range are regularly off by one Saffir-Simpson category!
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The second threat level graphic below shows that we expect Hurricane Irene to continue northward either along or inland over the Northeast U.S.
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The threat level in Northeast U.S. is low to medium for now and will likely change depending on the exact track and intensity of Irene.
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Timing for any potential Northeast U.S. impacts would be this weekend into perhaps Monday of next week.
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As always, stay tuned to The Weather Channel and weather.com for the latest updates on this situation. Tune in at :50 after each hour for a full look at the tropics.
A Notice of Development of Rule making
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Divison of Consumer Services
RULE NO: RULE TITLE 69J-123.002: Procedures
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule adopts a new electronic form for filing a notice of intent to file a civil remedy action as provided in Section 642.155, F.S.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The Department seeks input from those who will be using the new form or who will otherwise be affected by the rule as to how the rule can best meet their needs.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 624.308(1) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 624.307, 624.155(3)(b) FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
TIME AND DATE: Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: 143 Larson Building, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Greg Thomas, (850)413-3130. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Greg Thomas, Chief of Education, Advocacy & Research, Division of Consumer Services, Department of Financial Services, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0320; (850)413-3130
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
69J-123.002 Procedure.
The civil remedy notice required by Section 624.155, F.S., shall be electronically submitted on Form DFS-I0-363, “Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation,” (Effective:____), which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference. The form shall be submitted to the Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Consumer Assistance, through the website at https://apps.fldfs.com/civilremedy.
No fee is required.
Specific Authority 624.308(1) FS. Law Implemented 624.307, 624.155(3)(b) FS. History–New
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If you are the victim of a disaster, the sooner you can get help with your insurance claim the better. A public adjuster is just the person to get you the aid you need. Sure, you could submit an insurance claim on your own, but someone on your side your ultimate settlement could fall short. Make sure you cover your bases by getting insurance claim help from the start.
A licensed public adjuster has a different focus than the insurance company adjuster sent to help with your insurance claim. The insurance adjuster wants to be of assistance but also wants to limit company losses. Additionally, many adjusters arrive from out of state and simply do not understand the extent of building customs, costs, and codes per your state. After a major hurricane or flood or any other major property damage, insurance adjusters are also overextended. Do you want an insurance company representative who doesn’t know your states construction industry and is overworked to help you with your insurance claim or would you prefer a professional who is dedicated to making sure you get everything you are entitled to under your policy?
A licensed public adjuster offers insurance claim support that is uncompromised. These professionals understand both the insurance claims process as well as your state construction industry. From meticulous and accurate estimates to strong negotiation skills, having a licensed public adjuster on your side makes certain that your final settlement offer will cover all of your covered losses.
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For instance, if you live in Florida and need insurance claim catastrophe assistance, one of the first people you should call is a licensed public adjuster. Not only will you get help filing the claim and dealing with the paperwork, but you will also have a professional who understands your policy. Your public adjuster will examine your insurance policy to find out exactly what is covered under it. He will also thoroughly survey the damage to your home or Florida business. The insurance claim help doesn’t stop there. Detailed documentation and accurate estimates are part of the package along with negotiations with your insurer.
Getting insurance claim help doesn’t cost you a penny upfront. Instead, you will pay a percentage of the total settlement after your licensed public adjuster has negotiated a better settlement offer with your insurance company. This allows you to get the help you need with your insurance claim without the financial burden and stress your property damage has already caused you. In addition, your settlement check should be dramatically higher when you have a professional, licensed, public adjuster helping with the insurance claim.
When disaster strikes many people don’t know where to turn when they need help claiming insurance losses. You don’t have to go through the process alone or simply rely on the estimates your insurance company provides you. Instead, you can get immediate assistance along with a professional with your best interests as their number one priority.
Depending on the scope of your insurance claim, piles of paperwork will arrive. With a licensed public adjuster’s help, the burden is shifted from your shoulders to theirs. Public adjusters know exactly which forms to fill out and how to complete them accurately. Because of this support, your insurance claim will go smoother with fewer postponements.
Are you aware of how to document your losses? When filing an insurance claim in, it helps to know exactly what’s been lost. A licensed public insurance adjuster will go through your property, surveying and documenting all damage both to the buildings as well as to the contents. With this detailed help, you can expect an equitable insurance claim settlement offer and peace of mind.
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1. What is a public insurance adjuster?
2. What is an independent adjuster? 3. How do adjusters determine the actual loss? 4. Will a public adjuster help me receive a more prompt and satisfactoy settlement? 5. How much do adjusters charge for their service? 6. If I suffer a loss, what steps should I take? 7. What type of claims to public adjusters handle? 8. Why do I need help with my claim?
What is a public insurance adjuster? An authority on loss adjustments who you can retain to assist you in preparing, filing, and adjusting your insurance claims. What is an independent adjuster? An independent adjuster is an adjuster who works as an independent contractor with insurance companies or other organizations to investigate and settle claims. Independent adjusters are required to be licensed by the state. Compare to Public Adjuster. How do adjusters determine the actual loss? They take a physical inventory, obtain all pertinent appraisals and make sure all provisions in your policy are properly fulfilled. This often involves numerous steps of which you may know little or nothing, but can make a significant difference in the amount of the final adjustment. Will a public adjuster help me receive a more prompt and satisfactoy settlement? Yes. They lose no time in complying with the policy requirements to obtain and evaluate the facts and prepare the claim. The alert, knowledgeable and prompt service they render often preserves evidence that may otherwise be overlooked or destroyed. The more thoroughly and completely your claim is compiled and prepared, the faster your public insurance adjuster can accomplish an equitable and proper settlement in you best interest Once a policyholder has witnessed the skill and knowledge of the accredited public insurance adjuster, he or she rarely will attempt to settle a claim without the benefit of their specialized assistance. The public insurance adjuster’s most frequent sources of new clients are the recommendations of those they have previously served. How much do adjusters charge for their service? Your public insurance adjuster’s charge is a percentage of the insurance company’s settlement with you. By seeking to maximize your settlement, your public insurance adjuster’s services can save you the cost of their fees, at the very best. If I suffer a loss, what steps should I take? Promptly report the loss to the agent or broker, or directly to the insurance company – and immediately retain the services of an accredited public insurance adjuster to serve you. What type of claims to public adjusters handle? They will assist you in any claims you may have due to windstorm, explosion, and any other insured losses that are sustained (inland marine, business interruption, rental income, improvements and betterments, commission and profit, reporting forms, additional expense, etc.). Why do I need help with my claim? There are several reasons why you may want to consider receiving help with your claim. Filing a claim requires a written, itemized statement of your losses. You may not realize what the extent of your damage is, and the insurance company is not obligated to tell you. The burden of proof is on YOUR shoulders. A public adjuster will help you identify everything that you are entitled to. Also, filing a claim is a very time-consuming and aggravating process. During this emotional process you don’t have the presence of mind to spend hours ofinventory itemization and to argue with your insurance compny whether something should “just be repaired” or to be completely replaced. A policy holder is at the mercy of insurance company. Someone who is untrained in handling insurance claims, you will be dealing with insurance professionals who will not hesitate to use any slip of the tongue against you. They may low-ball you and won’t even know it, until it’s too late. Your adjuster can find damage tht the untrained eye will otherwise not see. He is well versed with what the insurance company wants to hear and what they don’t want to hear and he knows how to present our claim for maximum success. [footer1]
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| TIPS PROVIDED TO YOU BY HOME SAFETY COUNCIL:
Prevent Fires Caused by Cooking:
Prevent Fires Caused by Heating:
Prevent Fires Caused by Smoking:
Prevent Fires Caused by Candles:
Prevent Fires Caused by Gasoline and Other Products:
Keep Your Family Safe At Home
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If your residential or commercial property is damaged or destroyed and you decide to file a claim with your insurance company, be prepared to spend a lot of time and energy on the entire claims process. You will be asked to list and describe everything that you lost and the cost to replace or repair those items. Most people do not realize that is takes a lot of effort. This is a crucial process to the claim, also known as “documenting a claim,” but you will not get paid the money you are entitled to until you do so. Once you have finished that process you must begin negotiations with your insurance company or the chances of you getting what you are entitled to get smaller and smaller.
Public Adjusters are professional that you can hire to represent you in documenting and negotiating you claim. Public adjusters work for the policyholder and not the insurance company. The insurance company has their own team of adjusters, also known as “independent adjusters” which work directly with the insurance company on a contract-hiring basis. Independent adjusters are hired and paid by the insurance company, not policyholders. The insurance company will assign these adjusters to your claim, but they represent them, not you!
When you file a claim, you may be fine on your own, or you may do better by hiring an experienced adjuster. The same goes with other professions. You can choose to do your own taxes or you can hire a licensed CPA to review your tax information. A licensed Public Adjuster can your be your representative and advocate in the process of getting your claim processed and paid. The last thing you need when you have suffered a major loss to your personal property is extra headaches and problems. The claims process involves legwork, paper work, math, and insurance lingo, knowledge of building structures and codes, and negotiation.
QUESTIONS TO ASK AND THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIRE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER
1. Make sure your Public Adjuster is licensed! Ask to see their individual license for your state.
2. Be sure that you are interviewing the people that will be adjusting the loss. Find out if this person is just a sales rep and will be handing off your claim to someone else.
3. Is the company you are dealing with have an extremely large volume of business. Will they be able to give you the care and attention you deserve? Your claim can be delayed if your public adjuster is handling to many claims at once.
4. What type of skills and experience does your adjuster bring to the table? Do they have knowledge regarding your type of claim?
5. Is the adjuster personally fit for you? Do you feel that they are confident and comfortable with their communication skills and level of commitment?
6. Remember that Public Adjusters work on a contingency fee basis. If you do not collect money, nor will they. Also fees are capped in some states. The fee you agree to pay a Public Adjuster should take into account the size and type of loss and the experience and knowledge he/she may have in helping you get the maximum recovery for your loss.
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