Flooding damage estimate in Escambia County reaches $20 million

Escambia County officials have tallied at least $20 million in damage to public buildings, roads, bridges and facilities stemming from the weekend’s near-record-breaking rainfall.

And they are still counting.

Calculating the damage from Saturday and Sunday — in which Escambia received more than 20 inches of rain — is a tedious task that Escambia’s government agencies are scrambling to complete this week.

If damage to public facilities or infrastructure reaches a threshold of $25 million, Escambia County will be eligible for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The assessment only takes into account damage to public structures, including roads, bridges and public buildings, not damage done to personal property such as homes and vehicles.

Typically, FEMA would pay 75 percent of disaster costs, the state would pick up 12.5 percent, and the remaining 12.5 percent would be paid for locally.

Escambia and Santa Rosa counties’ state Legislative delegation on Tuesday requested Gov. Rick Scott to issue a disaster declaration in response to the weekend flooding. The letter was signed by state Sens. Don Gaetz and Greg Evers and state Reps. Clay Ford, Matt Gaetz and Clay Ingram.

A disaster declaration from Scott would allow for state and federal assistance for Escambia and Santa Rosa.
The Cost

“We’re just starting to get numbers in,” said Kathleen Dough-Castro, an Escambia County spokeswoman.

The county is collecting data from the City of Pensacola, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and other local government agencies to submit to the state. The largest single source of damage so far is in damage to public buildings.

The Central Booking and Detention facility at Escambia County Jail suffered millions in damage when its basement flooded in Saturday’s heavy rains, officials have said.

Tax Collector Janet Holley said her Warrington office on North Navy Boulevard had damage that will cost thousands to fix. The floor, sheetrock and parts of the ceiling will have to be replaced, she said.

PURE Appointed as a “Write Your Own” Company through the National Flood Insurance Program

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — As Hurricane Season begins, Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) has announced the roll-out of its flood solutions coverage suite to owners of well-built, high-value homes across most of the United States.* PURE Flood Solutions is an innovative, customizable offering that allows PURE members (policyholders) to obtain a superior level of flood coverage and claim service. In addition to becoming a Write Your Own (WYO) provider of the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) primary flood coverage, PURE has developed several optional coverage enhancements that are expressly designed for owners of high-value homes.
A Leading Cause of Losses for American Homeowners
As the most common type of natural disaster, flooding poses a serious and costly threat to families nationwide, but is not typically covered on homeowners insurance policies. What’s more, damage from floods is not just isolated to coastal or high-risk territories. While nine of the ten most costly floods in U.S. history were associated with hurricanes and tropical storms, according to floodsmart.gov, the official site of the NFIP, more than 25% of flood losses have historically been paid for damages in medium or low-risk areas. Despite the common occurrence of floods, however, a 2011 poll by the Insurance Information Institute (III) found that 86% of American homeowners do not have a flood insurance policy.
“Responsible homeowners, like the PURE membership, are typically more likely than the average consumer to purchase a flood insurance policy as provided by the NFIP,” said Martin Hartley, chief operating officer with PURE. “However, we took a look at the needs of the homeowners we insure, and realized that we could do even better. PURE Flood Solutions is designed to provide more seamless coverage for coastal homeowners, and a more responsive claims experience for people throughout our membership.”
A Complete Flood Solution for High-Value Homes
PURE Flood Solutions makes it easy for successful families to obtain broad, customized coverage against flood.
PURE Flood Insurance is primary flood coverage, offered through the NFIP’s WYO program. Coverage is available in all flood zones, for up to $250,000 for the dwelling and $100,000 for contents within a home.
PURE Flood Extension will be offered to homeowners in high-risk flood zones and coastal areas, and closes the gaps left by primary flood insurance. PURE Flood Extension expands upon the NFIP’s definition of a “flood” to include single-home events, offers replacement cost coverage for damaged contents that may otherwise be subject to depreciation, and provides coverage for contents damaged in a basement.
PURE Flood Advantage will be available to homeowners in low-risk, non-coastal areas. In addition to broadening coverage similarly to PURE Flood Extension, PURE Flood Advantage increases coverage to exceed the limits offered by the NFIP’s primary flood policy. Homeowners are eligible to receive up to $1,000,000 in coverage for their home and contents.
PURE Excess Flood enables homeowners in high-risk and coastal areas to increase their coverage limits to allow them to adequately rebuild their home and replace contents following a total loss.
Seamless Service from One Adjuster
In addition to offering expanded coverage options to better meet the needs of high net worth individuals and families, PURE Flood Solutions provides a number of service advantages to members. Following an event that causes multiple kinds of damage – such as a storm that causes wind damage to a roof and flooding to the home and contents – members may enjoy the ease of a seamless claim process, as one dedicated adjuster can be enabled to handle losses associated with the home and the flood. This helps members avoid the delays or confusion that can result from multiple adjusters.
“After Hurricane Irene, many of our members suffered losses due to downed trees and flooding,” said Hartley. “By writing their flood insurance and their homeowners insurance with PURE, members will have a single, PURE appointed adjuster to handle their entire loss – and will enjoy the same excellent claim service they’ve come to expect from PURE.”
About PUREF or promotional purposes, PURE refers to the members of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. PURE Group is rated “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Insurance coverage is underwritten through Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange, a Florida-domiciled reciprocal insurance exchange and member of the PURE Group. PURE provides coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability and watercraft to more than 14,000 successful families in 35 markets across the U.S. and is committed to helping its members (policyholders) reduce the price of insurance today while controlling their long-term cost of risk. In return for a fee, PURE Risk Management, LLC acts as Attorney-in-Fact for PURE. For more information, visit pureinsurance.com. Flood insurance policies are issued by Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange, a Write Your Own insurer in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange issues and services flood insurance policies in accordance with the NFIP.
This material is descriptive only. The precise coverage offered is subject to the terms and conditions of the policies issued. The rights and responsibilities of members are subject to the Subscriber’s Agreement and Power of Attorney. *Coverage not available in all jurisdictions.
SOURCE PURE Insurance

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — Flood warnings stretched along the Gulf Coast from Florida’s Panhandle into Mississippi as locally heavy rain Monday threatened a repeat of weekend downpours and storms that damaged homes, blacked out a jail and spun off at least one tornado in Alabama.

A 23-year-old Mississippi man drowned off Florida’s Pensacola Beach and more than a dozen other swimmers were ordered out of rough surf amid heavy rain that caused widespread flooding over the weekend, officials said. The Pensacola News Journal said the man’s name has not been released.

The newspaper also reported the storms forced the evacuation of a 200-unit apartment complex in Pensacola. Many residents found severe flood damage when they returned Sunday afternoon. Officials say electric power could be restored at the complex Monday.

The National Weather Service said rip tides from the storms were a danger along the coast and locally heavy rain could cause more flooding through Monday afternoon, although the intensity of the downpours was abating.

A tornado connected with the storm system also uprooted trees and destroyed chicken houses Sunday in southeastern Alabama, where an emergency official said a few homes were damaged but no injuries were reported.

“I actually saw it myself coming out of our church door — my first tornado I have ever witnessed,” said Margaret Mixon, emergency management director for rural Geneva County.

More than 600 inmates at the Escambia County Jail in Florida were without power and air conditioning after the rains left more than 5 feet of water in the bottom floor, which also houses the laundry and kitchen facilities.

Extra deputies were brought in to beef up security, and generators powered lights outside the facility to shine into the jail. Officials worked Monday to pump out the excess water and restore power.

“The whole electrical system is underwater. It’s going to be extensive damage,” said Sgt. Mike Ward.

The parking lot of the sheriff’s office was completely flooded, leaving some patrol cars and other fleet vehicles with water up to the hood. Some homes and businesses also had several feet of water inside, Ward said. Authorities estimated $3 million to $4 million in damages at the sheriff’s facilities.

Sunday’s rain could have been worse, coming on top of Saturday’s record rainfall. After getting more than 13 inches on Saturday, Pensacola only saw another 1.92 inches of rain Sunday. Mobile had 5.79 inches on Saturday and another 2.79 inches Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters originally feared that another 4 to 8 inches would fall Sunday on the coast, but the storm system pulled more of the precipitation farther inland, meteorologist Eric Esbensen said.

“That was a lifesaver,” Esbensen said. “We couldn’t handle another day of that.”

More than 100 residents spent the night in three Red Cross shelters in Escambia County on Saturday night, including residents from a 50-unit apartment. Navy officials also set up housing for residents of a 22-home subdivision evacuated because of flooding, according to Red Cross officials.

It was difficult to assess the damage Sunday because many roads in Escambia County were still flooded. Emergency officials planned a more thorough inspection Monday after the waters recede.

When people think of hurricane damage they usually think of Miami or New Orleans, but a new report suggests the greatest financial risk of all may be much farther north: the greater New York City area.

Data analysis firm CoreLogic said in a new report that the U.S. metropolitan area at greatest risk, both in the number of properties affected and the potential value of damage, was New York City. For the firm’s purposes, the area also includes Long Island and northern New Jersey.

“The summer of 2011 gave us some startling insight into the damage that even a weak storm can cause in the New York City metro area,” CoreLogic vice president Howard Botts said.

“Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it passed through New Jersey and New York City, but the impact of the storm was still estimated at as much as $6 billion.”

It is much more likely that a hurricane will make landfall in Miami than New York. In 2012, according to landfall tables from Colorado State University, the odds are 5.3 percent for Miami and 0.2 percent for New York City. Over 50 years, the odds rise to 95.5 percent for Miami and 6.6 percent for New York.

Still, the risk is there, particularly from flooding. While most people associate hurricane damage with wind, the storm surge from rising waters caused by cyclones has just as much impact, if not more.

That was painfully evident to residents of the northeastern states in particular after last summer’s Hurricane Irene. Although the insured impact of Irene on the New York City area was relatively limited, one of the insurance industry’s nightmares has always been a major hurricane traveling up the Hudson River and striking the city and its environs.

By some estimates, such an event could cause $100 billion just in insured losses, with economic damage some order of magnitude greater than that.

CoreLogic estimated the property at risk in the New York City area was worth some $168 billion.

In total, CoreLogic said, more than four million homes in the United States are at risk from flood damage related to hurricanes, with over $700 billion in property potentially vulnerable.

There are 2.2 million homes worth more than $500 billion at risk along the Atlantic coast, with another 1.8 million homes worth $200 billion imperiled along the Gulf coast.

About 35 percent of the at-risk homes are in the state of Florida alone and another 12 percent or so in Louisiana, the firm said. In terms of value of property, more than 40 percent of the risk is concentrated in Florida and New York.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling for a “near normal” 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.

Dr. Robert Detrick, director of NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, said forecasters anticipate nine to 15 named storms. Four to eight of those storms will likely become hurricanes with top winds of 74 mph. One to three of those hurricanes could form major hurricanes, with top winds of 111 mph.

These predictions are based on temperatures, wind shear and other factors, Detrick said.

The formation of El Niño in late summer or early fall could shift these predictions to the lower end of the range, he said.

Two storms have already been named before the official start on the Atlantic hurricane season — Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Bud. Hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Peak months of storm activity are August, September and October.

The 2012 predictions are lower than predictions made in 2011, when forecasters called for a 70 percent chance of 14 to 19 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes.

Detrick said NOAA will use new tools this year to measure, track and collect data from the storms, including small robotic boats that will gather information from inside the eye of the hurricane. In a partnership with NASA, scientists will also be able to analyze data collected from aircraft overhead.

During a conference call with members of the press on Thursday, scientists stressed the need for preparedness.

“The bottom line here is to prepare,” Detrick said.

Tim Manning, the deputy administrator for Protection and National Preparedness at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said, “The most important time to prepare is now.”

The Morris County Freeholders gave the go-ahead to releasing matching funds to a county effort to buy severely flood-damaged properties in four municipalities including Parsippany. If the measure wins final approval, 26 township properties can become permanently preserved open space.

The purchases would be made under the new Morris County Flood Mitigation Program, and would cover a total of 67 properties in Parsippany, Denville, Pequannock and Lincoln Park.

With the freeholders’ preliminary approval, it authorized spending $5 million in county grant funds to provide a 25 percent match for the $14.5 million in Hurricane Irene hazard mitigation funds received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to Jennifer McCulloch, the program’s coordinator.

“FEMA pays municipalities 75 percent of the cost, and this will cover the other 25 percent,” she explained, “Parsippany can begin to prepare to move forward.”

The freeholders’ final approval, she added, will cover the individual properties allowed to be purchased.

But the money is available now, McCulloch said: The four towns may now proceed with their “due diligence,” including appraisals, surveys, environmental assessments and negotiating a purchase price with homeowners.

Morris County will provide up to 75 percent of the $1.2 million acquisition costs with the remainder provided by the state Department of Envinronmental Protection’s Green Acres program, McCulloch said.

The freeholders established the Flood Mitigation Program last March in response to increased, repetitive flooding in the county, especially the excessive flooding caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011, said Freeholder Ann Grossi, a Parsippany resident.

“Hurricane Irene brought to our attention the cycle of repetitive flooding that so many of our communities are struggling with,” Grossi said. “In the wake of that disaster, the freeholders felt strongly that a more proactive approach could be developed to permanently move people out of harm’s way and reduce the destruction from flooding.”

The freeholder noted this is the first county-level dedicated flood mitigation program in the state.

“The main objectives of the program are to move people out of harm’s way and create natural, sustainable flood storage areas which protect the remaining homeowners, businesses and properties,” McCulloch said.

The Flood Mitigation program is an expansion of the Morris County Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. It was initially funded by $16 million of unencumbered funds allocated to the Morris County Agriculture Development Board, Grossi said.

Future funding levels for the program will be determined on an annual basis.
Committee members operate within a unique set of regulations created specifically for this program, and they report directly to the freeholder board.

Under the program’s terms, grant applications will be considered from municipalities only for the acquisition of residences, and lands associated with the residences, that have experienced either severe repetitive flooding, or homes that have sustained over 50 percent damage from a single flood event, said McCulloch.

Applications not funded through this program may subsequently apply to the traditional Morris County Open Space Program for funding to purchase the land only.

Costs for demolition, elevation or other non-acquisition mitigation techniques are not eligible under the county’s program.

Mcculloch said the program will work only with willing homeowners, and that all funds would go directly to the municipality, which will then buy the land and maintain it as public, open space in perpetuity.

CHOCTAW, Okla. — Earlier this month, we introduced you to numerous Oklahoma who had brand name insurance coverage but have had to hire attorneys to get what they feel is a fair settlement after their homes were damaged by tornadoes.

We’ve now uncovered yet another option for homeowners who find themselves battling their insurance companies.

We all know when you have a damage claim, your insurance company sends out an adjuster to inspect your loss; that adjuster works for the insurance company

Did you also know there are public adjusters?

These are adjusters who work strictly for the homeowner.

May 10, 2010, a twister ripped through Choctaw.

Kurt and Cheryl McKean went to a neighbor’s storm shelter.

“Everybody jumped in the storm shelter. It lasted about 18 seconds and yes, they do sound like a train,” Kurt McKean said.

The McKeans came out of the shelter to find their home heavily damaged and everything inside destroyed.

“We went from a beautiful, perfect home to just shock and awe,” McKean said.

Overwhelmed by dealings with their insurance company, the McKeans got a call from Alice Young.

“We know how to increase a claim because that’s what we do every day,” Young said, with Brown O’Haver.

“I’d never heard of a public adjuster in my life. I had no idea what they were,” McKean said.

McKean’s list of contents from his damaged home for his insurance company was about two pages long.

It was vastly different once Brown O’Haver was done.

“It was a book, it was basically a novel. I mean it really was,” McKean said.

Public adjusters do that by literally digging through every piece of rubble to find damaged items the homeowner may have overlooked.

By law, they can only work for the policy holder.

They  must be licensed and bonded and are regulated by the insurance commissioner.

These adjusters can do forms for the homeowner and act as the go between with the insurance company.

“We’re going to be a little bit more on them. It’s going to be a daily thing as opposed to when somebody has time to call them,” Young said.

Kent Edwards is with Claim Help Public Adjusting Group.

“Insurance companies, they work for stock holders. I work for policy holders,” Edwards said. “This is not a do-it-yourself business.”

The McKeans said they probably would’ve gotten a third of their insurance settlement if they hadn’t had their public adjuster.

“They fought the fight and didn’t give up until the end; ’til they got what we deserved and what they felt was fair and what we felt was fair,” McKean said.

Public adjusters do not charge any money up front.

They charge a percentage of the claim settlement, usually between 10 and 15 percent?

But most claim they can get you 30 to 40 percent more, simply by being extremely thorough and doing things the homeowner doesn’t understand or doesn’t have time to do.

Myths regarding insurance are pervasive, and home insurance is no different. InsuranceHotline.com dispels the top 5 myths that have sprouted up around home insurance, making it easier for insurance buyers to shop and purchase with confidence.

May 15, 2012

Understanding the world of insurance can be difficult, and it doesn’t help that there are so many myths and misconceptions circulating. Home insurance myths can be very costly, resulting in homeowners not having the right coverage or overpaying for their policy. Get the truth behind these five common myths surrounding home insurance, and avoid insurance buying mistakes that could be expensive.

Myth #1. A home should be insured for the purchase price. How much it cost to buy a home is not the amount that it would cost to rebuild that home. A number of other factors come into play in determining the market value of a home – the value of the land, the popularity of the neighborhood, and even things like a view. The replacement value of the home does not include the land or the view, but only the structures on the property and the contents. A home should be insured for replacement cost, not market value.

Myth #2. Water damage is covered under home insurance. Only some forms of water damage may be covered by home insurance policies. Usually what is covered is “sudden and accidental discharge of water” such as damage caused by a burst pipe. Flood damage is not typically covered by a standard home insurance policy, so those in an area at risk of flooding will need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Additionally, some damage that is a result of water in the home may not be covered, such as mold.

Myth #3. Home insurance covers needed upgrades. Whether it’s the roof that is getting old or a tree that is dying and poses a risk of falling, home insurance is not in place to cover wear and tear on the home or proactive measures to avoid loss. It exists to return a home to a pre-loss state after an unexpected occurrence such as fire or theft. Maintenance of the home is the homeowner’s responsibility and not part of the insurance coverage.

Myth #4. Natural disaster-related damage is always covered. While some nature and weather related damage is covered on a home insurance policy, not everything is covered. Wind, lightning, and hail damage may be covered, while earthquakes, flood, and landslides typically are not. It depends on the terms of the policy. Extra coverage is usually required to provide for all potential natural disasters. It’s important to read all of the covered perils and the exclusions in order to be aware of what is covered.

Myth #5. All personal property in the home is fully insured. While a home insurance package policy comes with contents coverage for personal property, there are limits and exclusions. High-value items such as jewelry, art, musical instruments and electronics usually have a per-item and total limit. To cover these items to their actual value, additional coverage is required. It’s also important to note that business equipment owned by a company is not generally covered under a home policy unless an endorsement is made adding home office coverage.

A home is a big investment, and home insurance is designed to protect that investment from many common perils. “It’s vital that homeowners understand what is and is not covered, and obtain any needed additional coverage, endorsements, or riders to protect themselves in full.” Tammy Ezer of Insurance Hotline.com advises. Clearing up these common myths makes it easier to do just that.