Last week, Massachusetts fell victim to an outbreak of violent tornados, causing $90 million in damage, according to Barbara Anthony, undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations. The tornados were focused in the Western region of the state, causing damage on an enormous scale. These recent figures, says Anthony, accounts only for the damage done to homes and does not factor auto and business claims. To date, more than 5,000 insurance claims have been filed, many coming from residential areas. More claims come in on a daily basis.…
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Missouri insurance rates expected to go up
The past month has been trying for residents of Missouri. Storms late in April sent the Mississippi River on a rampage. Miles of farmland were inundated with water, causing billions in damage and displacing the state’s farmers. Those same storms were accompanied by an outbreak of tornados that tore through much of the region. The now infamous Joplin tornado – the most deadly and destructive tornado in six decades – that sundered a town and left hundreds without homes was the last of the environmental onslaught. Together, these disasters will…
Read MoreCoastal area residents should prepare for the worst
The impending hurricane season is expected to be one of the most active in years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).While it is impossible to predetermine whether hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean will ever reach land, NOAA is advising residents of coastal areas to be prepared for the worst. The Insurance Information Institute recently released a statement regarding the importance of adequate property insurance, particularly for those living in Florida. According to the Institute, there are many things to consider when preparing for hurricanes. Florida has…
Read MoreOfficials urge policy reviews due to predictions of an overactive hurricane season
In the last two months, the southern and Midwest portions of the U.S. have been pounded by a rash of tornado outbreaks. These tornadoes have caused billions of dollars worth of damages and taken hundreds of lives. Unfortunately, they have struck areas where many of the homeowners were not insured or underinsured for the amount of damage that occurred. In the past eight weeks there have been reports of over one thousand tornadoes; 960 of those reports have been confirmed. This year, the portion of the U.S. known as “tornado…
Read MoreThe long debated coverage question…wind or water?
With hurricane season about to start in the U.S., many states that stand in the way of potential storms are looking for ways to improve their respective insurance industries. In Mississippi, legislators are considering a newly introduced bill that will help settle wind-versus-water insurance disputes. In the past, homes that have been destroyed by hurricanes have been the subject of dispute as to whether the majority of the damage was caused by wind or water. The bill hopes to remedy this issue by establishing a process through which insurers will…
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