Louisiana’s Temple Meets With Insurers Ahead of Potentially Active Hurricane Season

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple recently met with 20 property and casualty insurers ahead of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season to make sure insurers are prepared to handle claims following a hurricane or other catastrophic event.

“I thought this meeting was a necessary part of ensuring that the industry understands my expectations when it comes to making the claims experience as smooth as possible for Louisianans going through one of the worst times of their life,” said Commissioner Temple. “It’s important for the industry to understand that every interaction they have with a policyholder, whether it’s the initial meeting with the claims adjuster or a call to discuss the status of the payment, is an opportunity to clearly communicate what’s going on with the claim.”

The 2024 hurricane season is expected to be one of the most active in recent memory. The Eastern Seaboard faces a greater risk of major hurricanes than the Gulf, according to one research scientist.

The Louisiana property insurance market is still recovering from hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta, and Ida, which hit the state in 2020 and 2021. Ida alone caused billions of dollars in insured losses.

Temple, who became Louisiana’s insurance commissioner in January, said he is doing things “a little bit differently” when it comes to working with insurers.

“I want to facilitate a healthy relationship between companies and the department with a focus on getting claims managed and paid as quickly as possible following a hurricane,” Temple said.

While meeting with insurers, Temple said he stressed the importance of partnering with local, state and federal government agencies to participate in larger scale response and recovery efforts after a natural disaster. Temple’s post-disaster recovery plan includes the creation of the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which will host insurance industry claims representatives at the LDI to “foster clear and responsive communication” between insurers, policyholders and the LDI in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season began June 1 and runs through November 30.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Carriers Louisiana Hurricane