AGENTS RESPOND TO HURRICANE KATRINA

Whenever a catastrophe hits-hurricane, earthquake, fire, tornado, plane terrorist attackindependent insurance agents and factors are usually on the brow lines of the relief effort. In 1992 when Hurricane Andrew landed in Florida, independent agents and middlemans not only moved to have claims paid as quickly as possible, on the other hand they rolled up their sleeve and delivered supplies to areas badly hit by means of the hurricane. Last year, when four hurricanes hit Florida in quick succession, again agents were there to push from one side claims and to make certain that victims had the wherewithal to hold fast going. The same has been actual of nearly every catastrophic occurrence

Hurricane Katrina was no different in bounds of agents continuing to do their piece of works under adverse conditions. However, Hurricane Katrina's devastation affected not sole home owners and businesses, on the other hand their agents as well. This time around, insurance agents in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama missing their offices as well as their residences. They emergencyed help from their colleagues in other states. And they got it.

A week after Katrina hit, J David Daniel, a Louisiana independent insurance agent, spoke before the House Financial Services Committee. "I informed the committee that agents and middlemans in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have gone beyond the call of what one ought to do despite their own personal losse to work for the policyholders who need help," Daniel said. "A number of independent agents have missing their own offices and place of abodes but have been literally working around the clock to put up makeshift claims processing center upon their porches, in tents and trailers, or getting on the outside on the ground to be under the orders of the public. More than 100 insurance agencies in novel Orleans have been affected, including my be in possession of and it has just be amazing watching these agents, who are facing their be in possession of adversity, help their customers bring their lives back together."

Tommy Huval is CEO of the Lafayette, Louisiana-based The Huval Companies/Brown & Brown located 135 miles from of recent origin Orleans. Shortly after Katrina hit, he described the situation in the Lafayette area this way: "Aside from the typical tasks associated with a storm-operations up and running, handling claims, etc.-we've had to deal with thus many displaced people. We've had clan living at our home. My brother has had 15 race living at his duck hunting camp. My father has seven tribe living at his fishing camp and our accounting manager in Baton Rouge has had up to 22 nation living in her home. Virtually each hotel in South Louisiana from west Mississippi to east Texas is occupied. In the early days after the storm, the areas around Baton Rouge and Lafayette felt 'commandeered.'"

Almost immediately following Katrina, agents' associations began efforts to assist their member agencies. The Independent Insurance Agents and factors of America (ILABA) initiated a Katrina Relief capital to which the ILABA contributed $100000 to start. The Big "I" sent centurys of catastrophe packs to the Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi state associations for distribution. The catastrophe packs included logo items for agents to use in the field, windbreakers, poncho flashlights, hard hats, clipboards, polo shirts, t-shirts, duffle bags and more. InsurBanc, in collaboration with ILABA, bring together a special loan program for qualifying agency principals affected by the agency of Katrina. InsurBanc, the four-year-old bank unraveled jointly by the Big "I" and WR Berkeley Corporation, is offering special pricing upon short-term loans for hurricane-related expenses

The Independent Insurance Agents and agents of Louisiana (IIABL) also worked feverishly to assist agents and go-betweens by setting up Web sites for agency pass contact information, claims information, claims reporting, catastrophe information and agency assistance resources. Among those resources were assistance to agencies that were dislocated because of the hurricane in finding office space, a list of piece of work opportunities for agency employees laid not upon because of Katrina, and presents who offered to help with claims.

In addition, the IIABL worked with insurance companies to address important consumer and agency issues, like as claims administration, coverage point in disputes requested grace periods for agents to pay accounts payable to insurers, solicitations to insurers that they provide agents with depressed interest loans for rebuilding or regaining among other things. The IIABL also worked with Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley and his staff at the Louisiana Department of Insurance upon Emergency Regulations 15 and 17 which provides important consumer and agency protections in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National) also mov into action in the wake of Katrina. The PIA issued a call to members of the association from across the geographical division to offer temporary housing assistance as exigencyed to independent agents in the areas damaged by means of Hurricane Katrina. "Now is the time for all PIA members to advance to the aid of their companion agents," said PIA National Executive Vice President and CEO Len Brevik when the PIA effort began. "Everybody knows that PIA members are local agents who help local race We are asking members of the PIA family to pluck together to help their large bay Coast colleagues who are working to assist their clients in this time of need"