As the tornado and hurricane seasons wreak havoc across the U.S., Save the Children is offering tips on how to help children cope in the face of disaster. Based on Save the Children’s years of domestic and international experience of coming to the aid of children in emergencies, these tips can be used as a guide for parents to support their loved ones in the event of a crisis. “Save the Children knows from experience…
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For homeowners and renters who need to file an insurance claim in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, there are steps they can take to make the settlement process faster and easier, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Wind damage from both tropical storms and hurricanes is generally covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. This includes damage to the structure of the home and personal possessions. There is also usually coverage for additional living…
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When Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992 it left behind not just an enormous path of devastation, it also pushed the state to enact more stringent building codes to protect against the next big storm. According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, not all states in the hurricane zone have not followed this approach. On August 24, 1992 Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida as a Category 5 storm, causing more than…
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History-making hurricanes in the U.S. would come with much greater price tags if they happened this year, according to a recent analysis. Risk management and modeling firm Karen Clark & Company examined data from past hurricanes and identified ones that would cost $10 billion or more in insured losses today. KCC examined the nearly 180 hurricanes that have hit the U.S. since 1900 and determined that 28 of those storms would result in $10 billion or more in insured losses…
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The Colorado State University Hurricane Forecast Team issued a slight increase in its overall seasonal forecast for 2012, anticipating more storms than previously thought. The team still predicts a below-average remainder of the season due to the likely development of an El Nino. The team of Phil Klotzbach and William Gray now predict a total of 14 named storms with six becoming hurricanes and two becoming major hurricanes with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. In June, the…
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As unpredictable as the weather can be, there are those whose incomes depend on it. In the past a lack of snow, too much or too little rain could spell trouble for them—unless they had the option of buying weather insurance. Megan Green, assistant vice president at Vortex Insurance Agency, provides weather insurance to cover all kinds of mishaps caused by Mother Nature. Green says policies tend to be event-based, such as someone canceling an…
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The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud warns homeowners that the threat of summer rainstorms, hail, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires can not only cause damage to a homeowner’s property, they can also invite the risk of insurance fraud. After a storm, scammers will try to cheat honest homeowners who need repairs often urgently after a storm, or for routine seasonal fix-ups. “Most contractors are honest, but far too many are incompetent and unlicensed storm chasers whose best…
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Residents in Colorado affected by recent wildfires could be eligible for an exception from the 30-day waiting period usually required for flood insurance coverage, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, signed into law recently by President Barack Obama, increases access to the National Flood Insurance Program for some residents whose homes were impacted by flooding from federal land that resulted from wildfires. The new law exempts…
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The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America is offering home and business owners a list of steps to take immediately prior to and following a hurricane. The organization wants to help residents in hurricane-prone states make preparations for the threat of devastating storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a very active storm season with three to seven major hurricanes and the PCI recommends that homeowners, businesses and public policymakers take the necessary steps…
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Thousands of residents from Los Angeles
When you’re young, long-term care insurance is not something
