Posted On: February 10, 2006, 6:44 pm CST

Posted By: John G

TX, the state with the HIGHEST frequency of severe weather related losses in the country.
What is this statement based on?
Texas may be the biggest in size, but this one has got me stumped. Florida had 8 named storms in 15 months. Texas has not had that in decades. Sure its hot there, but its because it is a concrete jungle.
However I am willing to allow you the honor of saying your have the highest frequency of severe weather related losses, if the reinsurers will look favorably on Florida.

We need more people to beef up their older homes to current building codes and give them an incentive to do so, skyhigh rates for older homes and substantial discounts for mitigation factors, we need to replace older mobile homes and not allow them to be repaired after they are heavily damaged from a storm, thousands of 35 year old mobile homes had 2 total loss pay outs in 2 years. It is cheaper to replace the unit. We need Condo associations to blow the lock off their wallet and properly insure their buildings, get apprasials and insure them for apprasied replacement value. We need an insurance commisioner that gets it and does not pander to political motives. We also need EVERY policy holder to read the policy and ask questions if they do not understand, There is an argument for a standardized policy form, there is to many variances from one company to another, and the Dept of Insurance is to blame for approving it. We need legislatures to accept the fact that insurance companies need higher rates or the state and federal government will be bailing out everyone. Legislators and regulators need to look to solutions that will keep companies here, not trying to keep voters happy by beating up on companies, and companies need to respond better, get more knowledgable adjustors on staff and train people before the day after the storm hits. People are paying for claims service and they have gotten a bad deal. 2004 was rough and companies did little to make things better in 2005, or they just failed to implement the changes. Companies also need to provide better claims and policy information to agents via web sites or other electronic means, this will eliminate 50% of the phone calls. Agents need to insist companies allow them better access & claim service to customers and hold them accountable, they owe it to the customers that bought the claims service. Agents need to do a better job of educating insureds, customers really do not know what they need and should not be allowed to simply buy the cheapest thing offered without understanding that they are not getting all the coverage they need. and consumers need to take responsibility for themselves, prepare for the storm and protect their homes and then protect it after the storm from any further damage that could happen, this clearly did not happen enough in 2005 with Wilma. Everyone has something they can do to make things better, pointing fingers at the guy next to you is getting nothing done. Somebody step up and take charge, PLEASE.
And NO Mr Gallagher I am not talking to you, in my opinion you have done enough for us.