Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-run insurer of last resort, soon will begin raising rates for many high-rise condominiums in South Florida by 21%. The affected policies are for condo buildings that would cost $10 million or more to replace and are insured with Citizens for fire, theft, hurricanes and other risks.
For many condo dwellers on fixed incomes, this increase could be detrimental to their financial stability let alone their faith in their insurance company protecting them in their times of need. Educate yourself before it’s too late. If you have questions about your insurance policy give us a call – we’d be happy to help!
Renting? Do you have renter’s insurance?It’s something you should definitely consider because it can cover you for certain weather events and losses – including liability protection! Generally there’s a misconception that your landlord’s policy will cover your possessions, but this is not always the case.
The good news is that renter’s insurance is less expensive than many people realize: a basic policy costs about $300 a year for around $50,000 worth of property protection!
So, what happens if you need to file a claim against your renter’s insurance? We recommend taking notes and asking for names on every conversation you have with the insurance company. If your claim is denied or you are offered less than what you think is fair, ask for a detailed explanation. Or you can call us, East Coast Public Adjusters, at 855-GET-ECPA to help guide you through the process.
The NY Times recently published this article solely on renter’s insurance that has really great information. Feel free to call us if you have any other questions!
Severe Weather Awareness Week was an opportunity for Floridians to learn about the various weather hazards that frequently impact the state and how families and businesses can prepare for these natural events. Getting prepared beforehand can save you thousands of dollars on the back end. Below is a rundown of some of the severe weather threats for which Floridians should always be prepared…
Temperature Extremes and Wildfires
While wildfires can start at any time of the year, Florida sees a peak of activity during the early part of the year – beginning in January and continuing until the onset of more frequent rain during the wet season, usually in early to mid-June. A typical year in Florida will see over 4,600 fires burn nearly 110,000 acres of land. Florida is also home to a wide variety of temperatures that can reach dangerous levels. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 degrees Fahrenheit and the coldest temperature recorded in Florida was minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lightning
With an average of 1.4 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes each year, no other state in the country experiences more lightning strikes than Florida. Lightning is very dangerous and can travel as far as 10 miles from a thunderstorm! So while it may not be raining at your location, lightning can still reach you. The key to remaining safe from a lightning strike is to keep an eye to the sky and watch for darkening skies on the horizon along with distant rumbles of thunder. The two main tips to remember about lightning safety are: being outside is never safe during a thunderstorm and if you can hear thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning!
Tornadoes and Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are one of the most exciting types of weather and Florida has more of them than anywhere else in the United States and North America. All thunderstorms are considered dangerous because they contain lightning and can also produce damaging winds, heavy rain which may cause flooding, tornadoes and hail. Florida tornadoes come in all shapes and sizes, and can occur year-round, although most occur in the summer during the afternoon. Florida is also home to nearly 300 waterspouts each year, which are tornadoes that occur over water.
Hurricanes and Flooding
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st and continues through November 30th. Although the number of tropical storms and hurricanes typically peaks during August and September, it is important to remember that Florida can be impacted by tropical weather systems any time during the six-month-long season. Hurricanes and tropical storms can bring very dangerous weather to areas near the coast, including strong winds, storm surge and coastal flooding, flooding from heavy rain, and tornadoes. For those away from the immediate coastline, inland flooding and tornadoes are often the most hazardous impacts from these systems.
With all of this in mind, what does you’re current home insurance look like? Do you know what would be covered in case severe weather affects your home? Give us a call, we’d love to help you!
Last summer, Hurricane Irene caused extensive flooding in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states. Today, many property owners who suffered damage from that devastating storm are finding it difficult to collect on their insurance claims. That’s because some adjusters are adding extra paperwork to complicate the process and pushing for settlements that minimize payments to policyholders. (more…)
