Hurricane Ian is already one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history. The Category 4 storm and its 155-mph winds has wreaked havoc across communities, bringing widespread flooding and catastrophic property damage with it. While the true extent of...
NFIP or private flood insurance?
Questions can help your clients choose The National Flood Insurance Program has been the main flood insurance provider in the United States since its inception in 1968. But is it always the best option for your clients? Private flood insurance provides...
N.Y.: Bills see action as the Legislature winds down
A trio of lesser known—but notable—insurance bills passed the New York state Legislature in the waning days of the 2022 legislation session, which could have an impact on your agency and clients. Supplemental spousal liability coverage S.9367/A.1029–Sponsored by Sen....
Come hell or high water, homeowners need to understand flood insurance
With spring underway, bringing large amounts of rain and snowmelt, it’s more important than ever that agents are doing their best to educate homeowners about flood insurance. Recent data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicates that the U.S. has...
A legacy: NFIP rating system’s past and future
Traditionally, a legacy is something that is handed down from one generation to the next. In the legal world, it is literally an amount of money or property left to someone. More philosophically, a legacy can be an idea, mission, or purpose that future generations are...
Increase Law & Ordinance coverage for homes in SFHA flood zones
Did you know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s substantial damage rule applies to any building damage … not just flood damage? That’s right, even common homeowners policy perils such as wind, fire and/or water damage could trigger the requirement for a...
NOAA predicts a mild, warm Northeast this spring
Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its climate predictions for April, May and June. After a winter that was mild for some—and not so mild for others—this spring could be a much-needed break. However, some of these predictions come...
N.Y.: Defining windstorms in New York homeowners insurance
Each summer, meteorologists watch the weather over the Atlantic Ocean carefully for any signs of hurricanes forming and they determine if the storm gets big enough to earn a name. While the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a hurricane as, “violent storm with very...
Winter is here—and the NOAA shows us the latest on inclement weather
The winter season may bring warm fires, hot chocolate and cozy socks to mind—but residents in the Northeast aren’t strangers to the bitter cold, snowy conditions that accompany the winter months. For 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted...
Water-damage claims can happen anywhere at any time; education & tech can mitigate damage
I’m a coastal agent who insures a lot of secondary homes. At my agency, I have been watching water-damage claims closely for years. When our area gets a deep freeze, we do have a fair number of large claims due to water damage. However, weather is only a part of...