'04 Florida Claims To Exceed Andrew by 25%

By Steve Tuckey

NU Online News Service, Sept. 20, 4:14 p.m. EDT?The number of claims filed in connection with the three hurricanes that have slammed Florida in the past several weeks will exceed those filed in connection with Hurricane Andrew by more than 25 percent, according to insurance industry experts.[@@]

The New York City-based Insurance Information Institute estimates that about one out of every five Florida homes has been damaged by at least one of the three hurricanes that have hit the area since Aug. 13.

The organization now projects that the total number of claims will now exceed one million, surpassing the 700,000 claims filed for Hurricane Andrew.

Robert Hartwig, I.I.I. chief economist, said that while the insurance industry had sufficient resources to pay the claims, the three storms that struck the state within a period of about four weeks will strain the claims handling process.

"The unprecedented challenges created by multiple hurricanes understandably will strain the resources and cause some delays that would normally not occur.

Roger Morris, spokesperson for the Chicago-area-based Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, said the system is "bending, not breaking."

About 15,000 claims adjusters have come to Florida, for the most part from neighboring states, but some from as far away as Canada, to help with the extra workload. They are both on staff with the Florida insurers and with independents adjusters.

Mr. Hartwig said that adjusters will necessarily prioritize their visits by the severity of damage.

"The company claims adjusters will write checks to pay the costs of temporary housing for people whose property was damaged and to begin rebuilding of damaged homes and businesses," he said.

So far, few companies have reported actual dollar losses from Hurricane Frances, which hit the state on Labor Day weekend. Warren, N.J.-based Chubb reported pre-tax losses of an estimated $50 million dollars, while Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Holdings estimates its Frances after-tax losses at $20 million.

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'04 Florida Claims To Exceed Andrew by 25%

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