Commissioner Donelon Urges Vigilance Ahead of Tropical Storm Nate
Amy Fennell • October 6, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2017
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE OFFERS RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is urging residents to be prepared and vigilant as Tropical Storm Nate continues to track towards the Gulf Coast.
“There remains some uncertainty as to the intensity of this storm when it makes landfall, but I urge residents to take steps, if they haven’t already, to prepare for its potential impact,” said Commissioner Donelon.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers the following insurance checklist:
Conduct a thorough home inventory. Thorough documentation of your belongings will help in the event you must file an insurance claim. You can find details on how to make an inventory at www.ldi.la.gov/inventory.
Store copies of all your insurance policies in a safe location away from your home that is easily accessible in case of disaster. You may want to store your policies and inventory in a waterproof, fireproof box or in a safe and remote location such as a bank safe deposit box. Consider leaving a copy of your inventory with relatives, friends, or your insurance provider and store digital pictures in your email or on a website for easy retrieval.
Know your coverages. Check with your agent to find out if there is a hurricane deductible written into your policy. For example, a two percent hurricane deductible would require you to pay two percent of the insured value of your home instead of the usual deductible you pay when you have other types of losses. Keep a readily available list of contact information for each of your insurance providers or agents.
In the event you experience property damage, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. For example, a hole in the roof should be covered by a tarp or other materials. Keep the receipts for materials you buy and do not make permanent repairs until your insurance company has inspected the damage. Do not put yourself at risk in order to make such temporary repairs.
Quick facts about Flood Insurance
Homeowners policies DO NOT cover most flooding. You need a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home and belongings against flood damage.
Your automobile insurance policies cover flooding if you have purchased comprehensive coverage. If you only have liability coverage, your vehicle is not covered for flood damage.
You can buy flood insurance, even if your home has been flooded before. However, there may be a 30-day delay before flooding is covered. See your insurance agent for details or visit the National Flood Insurance Program website www.floodsmart.gov.
For more information, visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance webpage on hurricane preparedness at www.ldi.la.gov/hurricanes.
About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state’s insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by calling 1-800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov.
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Governor Jeff Landry and Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Kirk Talbot today to announce that Louisiana is investing an additional $20 million in Fortified homes, bringing the total amount invested in state Fortified projects this year to $100 million. Governor Landry announced that $20 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be transferred to the Louisiana Office of Community Development Restore Resilient Opportunities for Overhead Fortification (Restore ROOF) program to strengthen residential structures and reduce long-term disaster risk. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill that allows $50 million in additional Katrina and Rita bond money from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to be added to the Department of Insurance’s Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP). Also beginning this year, LFHP is projected to receive approximately $30 million annually from taxes and fees the Louisiana Department of Insurance collects from the insurance industry. “Building stronger homes is a vital part of making homeowners insurance affordable in Louisiana,” said Commissioner Temple. “I appreciate Governor Landry’s leadership and support as we work with legislators like Chairman Talbot to make Louisiana a national leader in the adoption of Fortified roofs.” The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) has finalized its promulgation of Regulation 136—Fortify Homes Premium Discounts. The purpose of Regulation 136 is to implement the statutory provisions set forth in La. R.S. 22:1483, et seq. , which require that all Louisiana property and casualty insurers provide premium discounts or insurance rate reductions for homes constructed or upgraded in accordance with the fortified standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. View Regulation 136 here .
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