Insurance Journal » Texas / South Central News http://www.insurancejournal.com Insurance Journal delivers the latest business news for the Property/Casualty insurance industry Thu, 23 May 2013 17:46:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Moore, Oklahoma Tornado Damage Estimated at More than $2B http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/23/293129.htm Thu, 23 May 2013 16:32:54 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=293129 The Oklahoma Insurance Department says a preliminary estimate suggests the cost of the tornado that hit the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore could be more than $2 billion. Spokeswoman Calley Herth told The Associated Press that the early tally of …

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]]> Safety Board: ATF Blocking Texas Plant Blast Probe http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/23/293106.htm Thu, 23 May 2013 15:50:21 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=293106 Federal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others, hampering its investigation, the panel’s chairman said. In …

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]]> Oklahoma Commissioner: 4K Home, Auto Claims from Twisters So Far http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/22/293038.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 23:20:12 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=293038 More than 4,000 home and auto claims have been filed as a result of the recent spate of tornadoes in Oklahoma. That number is expected to rise, according to Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. Doak has previously said that …

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]]> Oklahoma Schools Destroyed by Tornado Lacked ‘Safe Rooms’ http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/22/292966.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 15:34:58 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292966 In Moore, Oklahoma, an area residents call Tornado Alley because it’s struck by more ferocious twisters than anywhere in the U.S., two schools destroyed by yesterday’s storm lacked “safe room” shelters that would have cost $600,000 to $1 million per …

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]]> Oklahoma Tornado Damage Likely to Exceed Joplin – Commissioner http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/21/292888.htm Wed, 22 May 2013 01:36:50 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292888 The damage from Monday’s tornado in a suburb of Oklahoma City is likely to exceed that caused by the 2011 twister in Joplin, Missouri, that killed 161 people, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak said. In an interview with Reuters after …

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]]> Gene Eisenmann, Excess and Surplus Lines Industry Leader, Passes http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/21/292878.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 23:14:14 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292878 Gene Eisenmann, a leader in the excess and surplus lines industry in Texas and nationally, has passed away after a long battle with a host of illnesses, his family by his side. A giant of E&S lines, Eisenmann built companies, …

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]]> Update: Oklahoma Tornado Was EF5 http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/21/292863.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 22:19:19 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292863 A new assessment by the National Weather Service indicates peak winds in the tornado that hit the Newcastle/Moore Okla., area on May 20 reached the 200 mph to 210 mph range, putting it into the classification of an EF5 event. …

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]]> ‘Major Disaster’ Declared in Wake of Deadly Oklahoma Tornadoes http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/21/292795.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 16:14:15 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292795 An estimated EF4 tornado with a wind range of up to 200 mph roared through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, Okla., on May 20, leaving behind massive devastation and at least 24 confirmed dead. Earlier media reports indicated as …

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]]> Lafourche Parish Plans $6M in Flood Projects http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/21/292582.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 06:45:47 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292582 Louisiana’s Lafourche Parish is preparing to begin more than $6 million in flood protection projects for the Raceland and Des Allemands areas. The Daily Comet reports the work includes revamping two pump stations and a bulkhead using money from federal …

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]]> Texas Joins Flood of States Suing BP over 2010 Gulf Spill http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/21/292635.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 05:14:36 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292635 Texas has joined the crowd of Gulf of Mexico states to file suit against BP Plc, Halliburton Co and others for their role in one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history. The complaint, filed Friday in U.S. District …

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]]> Texas, Oklahoma Battle Opioids With Legislation http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/20/292543.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 16:21:03 +0000 Stephanie K. Jones http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292543 Editor’s Note: This is part of a team report on opioid use by injured workers. For the national story read: Opioid Epidemic Plagues Workers’ Comp In the South Central region, Texas and Oklahoma are two states where the battle against opioid …

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]]> Tornadoes Prompt State of Emergency Declaration in Oklahoma http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/20/292652.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 15:51:00 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292652 Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency after tornadoes, severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding wrought devastation throughout her state on May 18 and 19. Beginning on Saturday, numerous Oklahoma counties were hit with tornadoes, straight-line winds, …

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]]> Former Louisiana Insurance Agent Gets 5 Years in Fraud Case http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/20/292586.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 05:48:17 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292586 A 35-year-old Denham Springs, La., man has been sentenced in Baton Rouge federal court to nearly five years in prison and ordered to pay two life insurance companies more than $1.4 million for frauds he committed against them. The Advocate …

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]]> May 16 Storm Produced 4 Tornadoes in Louisiana http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/19/292580.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 03:45:23 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292580 A powerful thunderstorm in the afternoon on May 16 produced four tornadoes as it moved into Louisiana from Texas The National Weather Service, in a survey released Saturday, says all tornadoes had winds of 90 mph to 100 mph. The …

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]]> Ethics Board: Senator Can’t Seek Louisiana Citizens Post http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/19/292578.htm Mon, 20 May 2013 03:43:37 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292578 Louisiana State Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish is barred from seeking the CEO’s job at Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. That ruling was reaffirmed on May 17 as the Louisiana Ethics Board upheld an earlier advisory opinion, reports the American Press …

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]]> NWS: At Least 16 Tornadoes in Recent North Texas Outbreak http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/17/292468.htm Fri, 17 May 2013 15:41:10 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292468 At least 16 tornadoes have been confirmed in the outbreak in North Texas on May 15, federal weather officials say. Survey teams were sent to Johnson County, Hood County, Parker County, Ellis County and Montague County, the National Weather Service …

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]]> House Lawmakers Shelve Louisiana Citizens Rate Review Bill http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/17/292251.htm Fri, 17 May 2013 05:50:53 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292251 Lawmakers in the House have rejected a proposal seeking legislative review of large rate hikes for customers of Louisiana’s property insurer of last resort. The House Insurance Committee scrapped the idea in a 9-4 vote against Senate Bill 19 by …

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]]> Cause of Texas Fertilizer Fire ‘Undetermined,’ Authorities Say http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/16/292348.htm Fri, 17 May 2013 00:16:28 +0000 Stephanie K. Jones http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292348 The cause of the fire that triggered the explosions in a fertilizer plant in Texas last month has been deemed “undetermined,” investigators say. Texas State Fire Marshall Chris Connealy said the scene investigation into what caused the fire in the …

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]]> Newby Named President, COO at Texas-Based Mullis Newby Hurst http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/16/292238.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 15:47:08 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292238 Mullis Newby Hurst LP (MNH), based in Addison, Texas, has promoted John W. Newby to president and chief operating officer. Newby began his career with MNH in 2002, as executive vice president and partner. Prior to that, he was the …

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]]> Tornadoes Spin Through Texas Towns After Dark, Killing Six http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/16/292218.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 15:12:58 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292218 At least six people were killed and 100 injured when tornadoes ripped through north-central Texas after dark and authorities said the death toll could rise as rescuers search through the rubble of destroyed homes. At least three twisters were confirmed …

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]]> Smoke Alarms Provided to Elderly/Disabled in Texas http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/16/292108.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 06:25:33 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292108 Smoke alarms are on the way for clients who are provided services by H.A.N.D. and Faith in Action Caregivers in Austin, Texas. The donations are courtesy of the Austin Fire Department and the Insurance Council of Texas. Austin Fire Battalion …

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]]> More than $1M Recovered for Oklahoma Insurance Consumers in Q1 http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/16/292114.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 05:35:56 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=292114 The Oklahoma Insurance Department announced that its Consumer Assistance Division recovered $1,088,844 for Oklahoma consumers in the first quarter of 2013. Between Jan. 1 and April 30, the Consumer Assistance Division closed 1,149 complaints, assisted more than 8,500 consumers over …

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]]> Willie Nelson Gives More Than $120K for Texas Explosion Relief http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/15/291988.htm Wed, 15 May 2013 15:55:47 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291988 Country star Willie Nelson has donated more than $120,000 for relief efforts following a deadly fertilizer plant explosion near his Central Texas hometown. A representative for Nelson on Monday afternoon presented a check for nearly $81,000 to the West Volunteer …

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]]> Former Texas Agent Convicted in Insurance Fraud Scam http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/15/291985.htm Wed, 15 May 2013 15:54:03 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291985 A former Texas insurance agent has been convicted of a first-degree felony for diverting more than $150,000 in premium payments for personal use, the Texas Department of Insurance reported. The DOI said Leslie Ray Collins of Sugar Land was convicted …

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]]> Wildfires Break Out Near Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/15/291976.htm Wed, 15 May 2013 15:44:11 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291976 Wildfires have led to evacuation of about 30 residences in a North Texas community where 2011 blazes destroyed dozens of homes amid the drought. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported grass fires that burned about 100 acres in the Possum …

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]]> ProspX Names Former AIG Executive Gold as CEO http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/15/291849.htm Wed, 15 May 2013 06:24:47 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291849 Austin, Texas-based ProspX Inc. named Steve Gold as president and chief executive officer, bringing to the company more than 27 years of executive management experience in commercial insurance. Co-founder and former president and CEO Todd L. Young will become ProspX’s …

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]]> Confie Seguros Acquires Texas State Low Cost Insurance http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/14/291847.htm Tue, 14 May 2013 16:24:06 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291847 Confie Seguros, a national provider of personal lines insurance, has acquired Texas State Low Cost Insurance Agency of Austin, expanding the company’s network beyond its current locations in San Antonio and Houston. Texas State Low Cost Insurance was founded by …

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]]> Oklahoma’s Midlands MGA Joins Trusted Choice http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/14/291839.htm Tue, 14 May 2013 16:22:33 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291839 Oklahoma-based managing general agent, Midlands, is the newest member of the Trusted Choice consumer branding program for independent insurance agents and brokers, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) announced. Midlands, headquartered in Oklahoma …

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]]> TWFG Honors High-Achieving Producers http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/14/291832.htm Tue, 14 May 2013 16:16:39 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291832 The Woodlands Financial Group’s TWFG Insurance Services division has named 20 as outstanding performers and producers for the year 2012, the company announced. In addition to annual awards in seven categories, seven agents were inducted into the company’s President’s Club. …

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]]> Report: Oklahoma Should Expand Insurance Program http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/05/13/291742.htm Mon, 13 May 2013 16:40:38 +0000 http://www.insurancejournal.com/?p=291742 A consulting firm hired by Oklahoma to help answer the question of how to insure 200,000 people without health coverage told the state’s Medicaid board that an existing program could be used to build a broader system by 2015. Utah-based …

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