dISASTER PREPAREDNESS: HURRICANE SEASON 2020

Be prepared for any threat.
Your insurance "to do" list should include:
• Contacting your Northeast Florida independent insurance agent for free tips and up-to-date information prior to purchasing business or commercial insurance coverage.
• Scheduling a routine "check-up" with your independent insurance agent at least once a year.
• Asking about the cost benefit of opting for higher deductibles.
• Inquiring about specific discounts.
• Shopping around for identical products and services. Not every company charges the same rate.
• Reading your policy. An insurance policy is a legal document. Please read it carefully.

Get up-to-date information before disaster strikes. Check out these disaster preparedness links:
• National Weather Service
• Weatherchannel.com
• Florida Weather Monitor
• Florida Emergency Management
• White House--Department of Homeland Security
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Jacksonville Weather

Here's an example of the Disaster Resources available in recent years on the First Coast:
The State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services (FLDFS) has consumer resources and information for citizens affected by Hurricane Irma. And, there is information for agencies and vendors/suppliers to the insurance industry.
Here are links to FLDFS resources: 
https://www.facebook.com/FLDFS 
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/Consumers/HurricaneIrma.htm
Insurance Villages -- The Department of Financial Services will be setting up Insurance Villages in St. Augustine on Monday, Sept. 18th at the St. Johns County Administration Building, 500 Sebastian View, St. Augustine and in Jacksonville on Tuesday, September 19th at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water Street.
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated by the Governor of Florida because of Hurricane Irma.   www.floridadisasterloan.org
FEMA federal assistance for North Florida information: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4337
Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund is available to assist members and their staff. If a loss has occurred, check the fund’s guidelines, and please submit a grant application. Questions can be directed to Madelyn Flannagan at Madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net. Here is the link to their page: http://www.independentagent.com/Resources/TrustedChoice/Pages/disaster-relief/disaster-relief.aspx
The Jacksonville office of the Small Business Development Center has information about how the SBDC can help small businesses in North Florida affected by Hurricane Irma. The SBDC is located at the University of North Florida, 12000 Alumni Drive. They can be reached at 904-620-2476. The SBDC North Florida site: https://www.sbdc.unf.edu/
Citizens Post-Irma Teleconference notice and blog posts by FAIA’s Industry Relations Manager Dave Newell is recommended reading for any agent who has a Citizens policy that may have a claim due to Hurricane Irma. www.faia.com
Link to Citizens site:  https://www.citizensfla.com/hurricane-irma

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
”Independent insurance agents not only advise clients about insurance, but they’re disaster readiness experts,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) president & CEO. “It is imperative to know what your risks are and what to do in the event of a disaster. We recommend meeting with a Trusted Choice®independent insurance agent who is an expert in assessing your risks and insuring that you, your family and your home are prepared in the event of a disaster.”

Trusted Choice® and the Big “I” offer many disaster-specific readiness and recovery tips for consumers. To access go to www.trustedchoice.com. 

Luckily, this unfortunate — and often costly — information gap is completely avoidable. When it comes to insurance, knowledge is your best policy. That’s why the IIANF is encouraging business owners and consumers to get smart about their coverage.

​FINAL NOTE
IIANF feels one of your best resources for disaster preparedness and catastrophe planning is your Northeast Florida independent insurance agent. Corrine Garrison, a past president of IIANF (2003-2004) and a long time member of IIANF states, “We believe IIANF members are the best resource for our clients’ and customers’ insurance-related questions and concerns. This Web site and its links as well as the Web site of IIANF members provide the perfect opportunity for us to connect with business owners and consumers to encourage them to get smart about their coverage and about disaster preparedness."