If there's one thing Hurricane Frances taught Floridians, it's patience.
First, homeowners had to endure the storm's plodding arrival and extended stay. Now, thousands suffering property or flood damage may have to wait to meet with an insurance adjuster to document their claims and provide emergency relief.
But with tropical-storm force winds and rain still pummeling much of Florida well into Monday, many insurance companies were on standby for sending adjusters into hard-hit areas. In the Tampa Bay area, where bands of heavy rain and strong gusts continued Monday afternoon, chances were slim for a face-to-face meeting with an adjuster before today or Wednesday.
"We do have some adjusters out driving around trying to assess the damage but they're not contacting customers or writing checks or settling claims," said Tom Hagerty, a spokesman for State Farm, the largest private insurer for both home and auto operating in Florida.
Early estimates predicted Florida sustained insured damage between $2-billion and $10-billion, with some comparing the storm to Hurricane Charley, which caused an estimated $6.8-billion in insured losses Aug. 13. As of Monday afternoon, State Farm had received 11,317 homeowners' claims and 186 auto claims, a small percentage of what is expected. Allstate, another major insurer, characterized its calls Monday as a trickle.
Bill Mellander, spokesman for Allstate's national catastrophe team, said the volume was lower than expected because residents were only beginning to return to their homes after the record evacuation of Florida's east coast late last week. In addition, more than 3-million people were still without power Monday.
"It's going to take some time for people to get back in and see what damage they've got," Mellander said.
One of the biggest issues, particularly in the Tampa Bay area, involves flood damage rather than wind damage.
For cars and other vehicles, flood damage is typically covered if an owner has comprehensive auto insurance.
Flooded buildings and homes are another matter.
A homeowners' insurance policy will cover water damage caused by a blown-in window or roof. But homeowners have to buy a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program in order to be covered for general flood losses.
Hagerty of State Farm urged policyholders to call their agent first. "The claims person will have to look at every situation differently," he said, adding the general rule: "Flooding caused by rising groundwater is not covered by your homeowners policy."
For those without flood insurance, financial aid may be available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Aid was triggered after President Bush declared Florida a national disaster area.
As with Charley, major insurance companies and state insurance regulators are sending mobile units to areas affected by Frances. From their tricked-out RVs, insurance agents can input claims information and cut emergency checks up to $5,000 to help policyholders with emergency needs. The top priority: anyone whose house or mobile home was left uninhabitable.
Both State Farm and Allstate said they hoped to set up their first mobile units on Florida's east coast today. State Farm will deploy some of the 1,200 adjusters now working with Charley victims and tap up to 1,000 more adjusters from other states; Allstate has 600 adjusters en route from a staging area in Mobile, Ala.
The Florida Department of Financial Services also plans to open two mobile units in large shopping center lots: one serving Orange and Osceola counties and one serving Brevard and Martin counties. Specific locations had not yet been chosen late Monday.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who oversees the department, urged insurance companies to open their mobile units in the same locations as the state's, providing a "cluster" destination for residents with insurance questions or claims.
Gallagher's office also plans to establish mediation centers to help settle disagreements between consumers and their insurance companies. Tami Torres, a spokeswoman in Gallagher's office, said her boss thought of opening the centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, before Frances came ashore.
Locations have not been chosen, but the first center in Charlotte County will likely open in about a week, she said.
