Catastrophe adjusters who had more than enough idle time a fewyears ago, now are making up for it with a vengeance. Thewidespread damage caused by this year's hurricanes broughtthousands of adjusters to the Gulf Coast, both full-time carrierstaff, as well as independents.

Since Katrina made first landfall, adjusters have been working16-hour days to try to reach policyholders whose lives have beendisrupted by the second consecutive season of above-averagehurricane activity.

As fall segu?s into winter, the shortening days are but thelatest challenge to face adjusters, according to Hart Hubbard,director of catastrophe services for GAB Robins, who currently isworking in Florida. Initially, adjusters were working sunup tosundown examining damage to houses and other properties. As thedaylight hours have grown fewer, however, they have had torearrange their schedules. “They're seeing as much as they canduring the daylight hours, and doing their paper work at night,”Hubbard said.