Hurricane Victims to Submit Multiple Deductible Information

Homeowners eligible to receive compensation for multiple hurricane deducti-bles have been called on by Florida’s CFO Tom Gallagher to file their applications for relief so they are received in Tallahassee before March 1. The Multiple Deductible Reimbursement Program was formed because many Floridians could not afford to rebuild or repair homes after being charged as many as four deductibles.

“Those who may be eligible for reimbursement of multiple deductibles should have received application packages from their insurance company by now,” Gallagher said, “if they haven’t they should contact their insurer and our department.”

Floridians eligible for the program include homeowners, renters, mobile homeowners, manufactured homeowners, cooperative unit, apartment houses, and homeowners and condominium associations, which paid one full deductible for losses and incurred deductible losses from a second, third or even a fourth hurricane.

Individuals may apply for reimbursement of the amount of their loss in excess of their first deductible, capped at $10,000 for damage caused by two hurricanes or $20,000 for damage caused by three or more hurricanes during the 2004 hurricane season.

Condominium associations can recover a maximum of $3,000 per unit that did not have insurance for assessments. Any policyholder who paid more than one full deductible also may be eligible for relief. Applicants must have documentation from their insurance providers to verify that more than one hurricane claim was filed.

Reimbursements will be reduced by $100 to the total reimbursable amount for each claimed filed after the first storm claim; and by funds received as a grant to cover the deductible by federal, state, county or municipal programs.

Weather insurance offered
A “supplemental weather insurance” plan for organizations that schedule meetings in the “Sunshine State” during August, September and October 2005 has been announced by the board of directors of Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing organization.

Visit Florida launched an intensified marketing campaign, one provision of which will be to offer a “weather warranty.” Dale Brill, chief marketing officer says the program’s goal is to combat negative perceptions after last fall’s string of hurricanes.

The $4.75 million campaign will include grant funds totaling $475,000 for areas hardest hit by the hurricanes, which may need assistance in jump-starting their marketing efforts.

The grants will be available to tourism organizations that need assistance and meet criteria developed and judged by the Visit Florida Marketing Council Steering Committee task force. The task force will use methods already applied with existing Visit Florida grant programs such as the Matching Advertising Grant and Multicultural Grant Programs.

Topics Florida Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane Homeowners