OIR Issues Memorandum on Disaster Response Coordination
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has issued an informational memorandum (OIR-11-02M) informing property and casualty insurers of Partners in Recovery, a not-for-profit organization intended to expedite the settlement of property insurance claims. The program coordinates disaster preparation and response communications among the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), emergency management agencies, and the insurance industry. The program includes an industry liaison and Florida’s State Emergency Management Operations Center, who will facilitate communications with the insurance industry. The program also has a disaster assessment team that will visit affected areas immediately after storms and provide feedback regarding the nature of damages. Finally, the insurance industry is able to receive permitted access to storm-damaged areas after events to investigate losses and facilitate claims payments.
Insurers interested in the Partners in Recover program may attend its upcoming May 17 meeting in Ft. Lauderdale.