Tornado insurance claims from Mississippi approaching $100 million

Tornado insurance - Tornado near home

The twister in March left a lengthy path of destruction through several parts of the state. The tornado insurance losses from the twister that ripped through parts of Mississippi in March are rapidly climbing, to the point that they are now nearing $100 million. Uninsured losses from the damage are expected to be even greater than those that are covered. The Mississippi Delta experienced particular damage from the storm, and it is among the poorest regions of the United States. As a result, tornado insurance coverage in the area hardest…

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Flooding costs from Hurricane Irene to be covered in part by taxpayer dollars

As Hurricane Irene bowled through the east coast, it left behind a path of destruction caused by its high winds and rains, with initial estimates for the damage ranging from $2 to $7 billion. That said, much of the bill for rebuilding will be covered by taxpayer dollars. The reason for this additional cost to taxpayers is that the majority of home and business owners in the Northeast don’t have coverage for flooding caused by hurricanes, and the federal insurance program is already facing a debt worth billions of dollars.…

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Property insurance rates in Mississippi even out but insurers still wary

The Mississippi Insurance Commissioner, Mike Chaney, is reporting that property insurance rates in the state are leveling off. Chaney spoke Tuesday at a luncheon hosted by the Gulf Coast Business Club. Predictions of an unusually active hurricane season earlier this year from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spurred a sharp rise in insurance rates in Mississippi and neighboring states. The momentum seems to have died out, however, a trend that Chaney believes is due to models that suggest many storms will be diverted to Texas or up the East…

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Several rally to keep government flood program intact

Record flooding has put Mississippi in a state of disarray. The extent of flood damage is proof enough of the importance of insurance coverage, says the state’s Insurance Commissioner, Mike Chaney. Spurred by the flooding, Chaney is petitioning Congress to renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for another 5 years. Chaney argues that Mississippi residents relying on the program for coverage should not have to worry about their only means of protection disappearing. Several other Insurance Commissioners from across the country have joined in support of the continuance of…

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