Insurance Dispute Lawyer Blog

NOAA Hurricane Outlook for 2009

Published on: July 5, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a governmental agency focused on monitoring the ocean and atmosphere throughout the year, has released its 2009 figures for what it expects to see this hurricane season:

While this might not seem like much, it is a more positive outlook than we saw last year. In last year’s predictions, there was a 65% prediction of more hurricanes than normal, as compared to 25% this year. As such, the Gulf Coast region may get a calm this season which would be a very welcome reality given the past decade and the amount of devastating storms that came through recently.

For tips on how to prepare for hurricane season, check out our section on hurricane and storm tips found here.

Happy 4th of July from the Berniard Law Firm

Published on: July 4, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

We hope each and every one of you is enjoying an enjoyable Independence Day. Enjoy your barbeque and relaxation on this very important national holiday!

Timeline anew for Katrina lawsuits

Published on: July 3, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Catching up on June happenings, it is important for those individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina to know that the timeline in which they may file for claims involving damage from the epic storm has been reset.

From NOLA.com

The class action allegations against insurers in the consolidated levee breach litigation have been dismissed, restarting the clock for anyone who is dissatisfied with the results of their Katrina claim and allowing them to file a lawsuit against their insurer nearly four years after the storm.

How to report Chinese drywall claims

Published on: July 2, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the overarching body responsible for product reliability and keeping dangerous products out of the country, is the governmental source to make claims to regarding Chinese drywall. While the CPSC has not been able to find a definitive way in which home or property owners can know if their drywall is the same faulty product imported by China, there are several telltale signs. Physical symptoms of exposure to Chinese drywall include:

itchy eyes

respiratory problems

City publishes helpful hurricane preparedness guide

Published on: July 1, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

As a heartening sign that lessons of the past have been learned, one city’s government has published a hurricane preparedness guide that is a solid tool for anyone in the Gulf Coast region to utilize.

Available off of their website, the City of Boynton Beach has published a PDF that walks users through how to be best prepared in the event of a storm. As they put it

The best way to cope with a hurricane is to prepare a plan in advance. The 2009 Hurricane Preparedness Guide is a compilation of the best advice from experts at the City of Boynton Beach, the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other knowledgeable sources. It was written specifically for residents of Boynton Beach and contains important telephone numbers and locations of Publix stores and gasoline service stations with generators

Houston’s museums prepare for hurricane season

Published on: June 30, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Olivia Flores Alvarez had an entertaining blog post about how museums in the Houston area are preparing for hurricane season that’s worth a read. Available here, the article takes a lighter approach to the issue of tropical storm preparation for buildings in the Gulf Coast region that house priceless works of art.

An excerpt

Hurricane Ike, which pretty much shut Houston down for a couple of weeks, didn’t affect the Aurora Picture Show’s programming schedule last year. “We continued with the screening we had planned,” says Tepper. “The city was still a wreck and the turnout was extremely modest, but we went ahead. We actually served Hurricanes, the drink, during the show. A lot of people still weren’t driving after the storm, so it was just people from the area. Everyone came over; we had air-conditioning and Hurricanes. It actually was a fun, little community event.”

FEMA speaks out on importance of flood insurance

Published on: June 29, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

FEMA recently came out to publicly encourage residents of Florida and the Gulf Coast to get flood coverage, regardless of how susceptible to risk they may be. In doing this, the government is bringing more attention to the need for proper insurance policies and to prevent having to help out thousands of people who thought it ‘could never happen to them.’

Matt Gilmour of the Tallahassee Democrat highlights this important step on the part of FEMA

With hurricane season under way, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is reminding Florida residents about the importance of flood insurance, even if they don’t live in high-risk areas.

Houston boasts new Hurricane center

Published on: June 28, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

On the campus of the University of Houston, a new storm preparation center will work to educate students and area locals on the effects and dangers of hurricanes while developing technology to predict and innovate protection against such storms. Justin Horne of KIAH reports

The Texas Hurricane Center for innovative technology was developed last year at the University of Houston. The center was created with ideas, in mind, to combat the effects of hurricane season. And now researchers are ready to make these ideas a reality.

Dr. Vipulanandan, a civil engineering professor at the University of Houston, has been working with his engineering students to develop this technology.

Speculation on how to save the insurance industry

Published on: June 27, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The recent events in Florida and the exit of various insurance companies from areas surrounding the Gulf Coast have raised a lot of speculation on how to preserve competition within these states while at the same time not forcing the government’s hand to bail out in the event of a disaster. About a month ago The Florida Times-Union wrote on this topic and how drastic the decisions may be to keep a level playing field for residents.

Florida’s property insurance system is a ticking time bomb, one that could wreak havoc on the state’s economy when – that’s when, not if – the next hurricanes hit.

This is because the state-run catastrophic fund, which shares property insurance risks with companies that sell policies here, is egregiously underfunded.

Making yourself familiar with your insurance policy and coverage

Published on: June 26, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

With hurricane season in full swing, it is important for home and property owners to be fully aware and clear about their insurance and coverage, or lack thereof, that it provides. Whether living in a flood plain or tucked safely in a non-flooding area, residents of the Gulf Coast can be affected all the same by a hurricane by the list of dangers such as wind or rain damage. Going through your policy and making sure the proper cover necessary to properly rebuild in the event of storm damage is there will help prevent nasty surprises should the unthinkable happen and serious destruction befalls you.

Tim Engstrom from Southwest Florida’s News-Press has more

Most homeowners – especially those outside high-hazard coastal zones – can find coverage, but it is likely to be with a newer, less-familiar company, said Randy Duncan, an agent with the Insurance Depot of Lee County in Cape Coral.