BCU Risk Management and Insurance

July 1, 2010

The U.S. Senate last night approved a temporary reauthorization of the federal flood insurance program until Sept. 30. The reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is retroactive to June 1, the date the program was halted.

The unanimous Senate vote sent the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature. The House had previously approved reauthorization.

Once President Obama signs the bill into law, the NFIP should return to normal operations, according to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”).

Also, since the extension is retroactive, any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application or, in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application.

Please click the link below to view this document.

Losses Due to Lightning 2009

Article courtesy of Insurance Information Institute.

www.iii.org

Hurricanes and the Oil Spill PDF

The U.S. Congress has failed to pass a vote reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program – leaving millions of homeowners without Flood coverage.  We have posted the the FEMA bulletin which addresses some frequently asked questions regarding how coverage and claim payments will be handled while the program remains in suspension. 

Click Here to View the FEMA Document

The federal government has recently announced a multi-agency investigation of drywall imported from China that is suspected of releasing sulfur gases – believed to be causing unusual metal corrosion and health problems. 

Until recently, drywall problems have been found mainly in Florida, but a Washington, D.C. based research group that works on class action lawsuits, says it is now getting complaints from California, Arizona, Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, the Carolinas, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia and other states.  A number of class-action lawsuits have recently been filed in Florida, where some builders are moving residents out of their home and replacing suspect drywall.

The drywall products used in U.S. homes have traditionally been made in this country, but that changed beginning in 2004 as first, a building boom, and then rebuilding made necessary by hurricanes Katrina and Rita depleted domestic supply.

The Florida Department of Health says it has received more than 140 complaints from homeowners and is still trying to determine if the drywall is causing serious health problems.

The suspect drywall is being found in homes built or remodeled since 2004.  Among the indicators:

• The home may have a slight or strong, sulfur, rotten egg or even acid type smell;
• Air conditioning coils, stove top and oven elements, and refrigerators may be failing at an unusually high rate – often within 1 year or less;
• Silver jewelry/flatware may be tarnishing within months or even weeks.  Mirrors may turn black; and,
• Since moving into the home, a homeowner or family member may have experienced symptoms of severe allergies, nose bleeds, or upper respiratory problems.  If that person leaves the home for an extended period of time, these symptoms may disappear.

The Herald Tribune of Sarasota recently reported that at least 550 million pounds of Chinese drywall have come through U.S. ports since 2006 – enough drywall to build at least 60,000 homes.