Hurricane Andrew 25th Anniversary: Insurers Warn Floridians to Always Be Prepared

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Aug. 22 -- The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America issued the following news release:

This week marks the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, the devastating storm that ripped through South Florida in 1992 and left an indelible mark in Florida's history books. Remembering the aftermath of the natural disaster, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) today urged property owners to take some basic precautions to protect themselves and their belongings before it's too late.

"I can remember as a child seeing the devastating images of the communities completely wiped out and the fear in people's eyes as they returned home to find in some cases virtually everything wiped away," said Logan McFaddin, PCI Florida regional manager. "Not only did this one storm change many lives forever, and is still one of the top five overall natural catastrophes the U.S. has ever experienced."

"While the power of these storms is tremendous, it is important that policyholders know insurers will continue to be there to help restore communities impacted after a major disaster," said McFaddin. "Insurers are among the first responders - there to help throughout the recovery process. We are also here to raise awareness and warn storm victims about some water remediation companies, shady contractors, public adjusters and lawyers that seek to prey on their misfortune. These scammers hurt hardworking Floridians, driving up insurance costs."

PCI warns Floridians that flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners policy, and there is a 30-day waiting period before flood coverage goes into effect. To ensure you have the coverage you need should a disaster strike, PCI encourages Floridians to have a conversation with their insurance agent or company regarding their policy. During this conversation, it is important to ask if you should consider purchasing flood insurance, as most homeowners' policies do not cover flooding and must be purchased separately.

In the wake of the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, PCI reminds Floridians to be prepared for a storm to strike by taking the following precautionary measures.

PCI Hurricane Precautions:

* Review your property insurance policy, especially the "declarations" page, and check whether your policy pays replacement costs, or actual cash value for a covered loss.

* Inventory your household items, and photograph or videotape them for further documentation. Keep this information and your insurance policies in a safe place.

* Keep the name, address and claims-reporting telephone number of your insurer and agent in a safe and easily accessible place.

* Protect your property by covering all windows with plywood or shutters, moving vehicles into the garage when possible and placing grills and patio furniture indoors.

* Keep all receipts for any repairs so your insurance company can reimburse you.

* Check with your insurance adjuster for referrals to professional restoration, cleaning and salvage companies if additional assistance is needed.

* Make sure watercraft are stored in a secure area, like a garage or covered boat dock. A typical homeowners policy will cover property damage in limited instances for small watercraft, and separate boat policies will provide broader, more extensive property and liability protection for larger, faster boats, yachts, jet skis and wave runners.

For information on storm readiness, please refer to:

* PCI Hurricane Headquarters: PCI's Hurricane Headquarters page

* PCI Online Magazine: http://bit.ly/HurricanePrep2017

* PCI 2017 Have A Plan Insurance Checklist: http://bit.ly/HurricaneChecklist17

* PCI 2017 Hurricane Fact Sheet: http://bit.ly/HurricaneFacts17

PCI promotes and protects the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers and insurers. PCI is composed of nearly 1,000 member companies, representing the broadest cross section of insurers of any national trade association. PCI members write $202 billion in annual premium, 35 percent of the nation's property casualty insurance. Member companies write 42 percent of the U.S. automobile insurance market, 27 percent of the homeowners market, 33 percent of the commercial property and liability market and 34 percent of the private workers compensation market.