Tag Archives: Hurricane Sandy

Insurance Deductibles & Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Sandy

 

 

The following memo from the insurance industry may be helpful in guiding you.

 

 

Extreme Events Committee Bulletin #12-41

 

FROM:           Matthew T. Wulf

Dennis C. Burke  

 

 

DATE:            November 1, 2012

 

SUBJECT:     State Insurance Departments’ View of “Hurricane Deductibles” Related to Sandy

 

Information provided: The status of various state departments of insurance positions on the application of “hurricane deductibles” related to hurricane/post-tropical cyclone Sandy.

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

State insurance departments have begun issuing bulletins and opinions regarding the applicability of percentage windstorm or hurricane deductibles in the aftermath of hurricane/post-tropical cyclone Sandy.   

 

While state laws and individual policy language varies, most insurance laws and regulations in the Northeast require sustained hurricane-force wind readings from a national weather service land-based anemometer in order to trigger “hurricane deductibles.”  These readings are often different from news reported wind speeds. 

 

Additionally, some states require NOAA or the NHC to issue a hurricane warning in the state.  With Sandy, the National Hurricane Center did not issue hurricane warnings north of North Carolina.  While hurricane watches are typically announced 48 hours in advance of the expected onset of tropical storm-force winds, and warnings 36 hours in advance, the National Hurricane Center decided on October 27th that there would be no advisories issued for Sandy north of North Carolina.

 

The following is an excerpt from the NHC statement:

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issues advisories, forecasts, and warnings on tropical cyclones – the generic term for hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions. Sometime prior to making landfall, Hurricane Sandy is expected to lose its characteristics as a tropical cyclone and take on the structure of a wintertime low-pressure area. Because the National Hurricane Center only issues advisories on tropical cyclones, there will be changes in the flow of information coming out of the NWS when this transition occurs.

 

State Positions

 

1.      Connecticut

 

The Connecticut Insurance Department issued a notice on October 30th indicating that based both on the lack of a hurricane warning and lack of hurricane-force wind speed readings, deductibles will not apply to Sandy claims.

 

http://www.ct.gov/cid/lib/cid/Important_Notice_Update_to_Hurricane_Deductibles_Storm_Sandy.pdf

 

2.      District of Columbia

 

The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking released a notice on October 30th indicating that “the District of Columbia did not sustain hurricane force winds associated with the Sandy storm, nor did the National Hurricane Center (NHC) designate Sandy a hurricane in the District of Columbia. Therefore, insurers may not impose a hurricane deductible on any claims submitted by District of Columbia insureds.”

 

http://disb.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/disb/publication/attachments/Sandy%20Storm%20Notice-10-30-12.pdf

 

3.      Maryland

 

The Maryland Insurance Administration issued a bulletin on October 30th announcing its position that deductibles do not apply to Sandy because there was no hurricane warning issued.

 

http://www.mdinsurance.state.md.us/sa/docs/documents/insurer/bulletins/bulletin-12-24.pdf

 

4.      New York 

 

According to a New York Department of Financial Services press release on November 1st, hurricane deductibles in New York insurance policies should not be triggered by Sandy because the storm did not have sustained hurricane-force winds when it impacted the state.

 

http://www.dfs.ny.gov/about/press/pr1211011.htm

 

5.      New Jersey

 

While it has been reported that Acting Commissioner Kobylowski communicated to the insurance industry that the hurricane deductible trigger does not apply in New Jersey because the National Weather Service downgraded Sandy to a Post-Tropical Cyclone before it reached land in New Jersey, there has not been an official release, notice or bulletin from the Department at this time.

 

6.      Rhode Island

 

On October 30th, the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division released an industry alert announcing that based on information issued by the National Weather Service, “a “Hurricane Warning” was not issued for the State of Rhode Island. Therefore, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-76 and Insurance Regulation 110, Section 4F, insurers may not impose a hurricane deductible on Rhode Island residential claims.”

 

http://www.dbr.state.ri.us/documents/divisions/insurance/consumers/IndustryAlert2012-4.pdf

 

The RAA will keep members apprised of developments related to hurricane deductibles and pass along all official Department correspondence on the matter.

 

Cc:       Law Committees

            Brokers

            Claims Committees

Hurricane Sandy: Getting Help From FEMA

  If you are in a declared disaster area you may be entitiled to financial relief to help rebuild your home, make repairs and receive housing assistance. FEMA puts out an excellent primer which may be accessed at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/assistance/process/help_after_disaster_english.pdf. The table of contents is as follows: Overview of the Individuals and Households Program……………………………..1 Types of Assistance…………………………………………………………………………………….1Continue Reading

Hurricane Sandy: Do I need a Lawyer?

Be cautious in dealing with representatives of companies involved in catastrophic disaster. Also, caution and judgment should be exercised in dealing with representatives of insurance companies. Be particularly careful before signing any papers in connection with the promise of the payment of a given sum of money. Likewise, a lawyer may solicit your case, butContinue Reading

Hurricane Sandy : Restoring Critical Documents

  What can be done about wet files and documents? Once safety clearance has been   given to enter the premises, one of the first concerns is to determine the state of   client and office files. The successful recovery of water-damaged documents requires   drying of the document as quickly as possible. According toContinue Reading

Top