Austin, Texas (PRWEB) June 30, 2009 — More than 35 million people live in areas that could potentially be affected by hurricanes this year. With the busiest part of hurricane season approaching (August through September), websites like www.WeAreSafeandSound.com are working to make sure that natural disasters don’t separate families and create communication problems.

We Are Safe and Sound is a free emergency and disaster communications service. Users can register ahead of time and in the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, they can post a message on the site for their friends and family ensuring that people can find each other when they need to.

“I personally live in the Gulf Coast area and saw first-hand the worry that a breakdown in communication can create during a natural disaster,” said Alvin Brown, WeAreSafeandSound.com President. “We started the site to make sure that families can stay connected when it matters most.”

As a guest Brown can discuss:
- How Gulf Coast families can prepare for natural disasters like hurricanes
- What other factors to consider when you are preparing for hurricane evacuation
- Why people should consider a provider other than government agencies for help during a natural disaster
- And much more
2008 was a tumultuous year for hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and yet according to AT&T, more than 1/3 of residents say that they have not even thought about what their emergency communications plan should be.

“People don’t understand the importance of having an emergency communications plan until the emergency happens and they’re stranded without a way to communicate,” said Brown. “Our service really focuses on decreasing the time it takes people to reconnect after being evacuated or displaced.”

About WeAreSafeandSound.com:
Members of the site are assigned a username and password, and a voicemail box extension. In the event of a natural disaster, they can call their voicemail box via a toll-free number and leave a “Safe&Sound” message loved ones. Members associated with the account call the same toll-free number and can listen to messages after they provide proper identification.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2516764.htm

(Vocus) June 16, 2009 — The American Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America offer the following article, “Hurricane Helpful Hints,” by Donna J. Popow J.D., CPCU, AIC.

They often show up with little warning, bringing high-speed winds and torrential rain. These destructive forces of nature are unwelcome guests in any home.

Hurricane season is here. Are you prepared?

There are several precautionary measures you can take before the need arises:
• Check your policy - wind damage is usually covered by homeowners’ policies, but flood damage is not.
• Buy flood insurance if necessary - water that accumulates in the street from rain or storm surge will be considered flood water.
• Check the policy limit - make sure you can rebuild for the amount you are insured. See if you have Actual Cash Value coverage or Replacement Cost coverage.
• Have a plan - know the steps you will take to prepare your home for a storm.
• Gather supplies - have the supplies you will need on hand at the start of the hurricane season, such as pre-cut plywood and sandbags.
• Secure your boat - if you own a boat, plan where you will take it in the event of a storm. Check your marina or dock contract to see if you are required to move the boat. Have the supplies on hand to prepare the boat for the storm, such as anchors, chains, and chafe protection.

When you receive warning of a storm, follow these guidelines before the storm arrives:
• If ordered to evacuate, do so - take your homeowners policy, auto policy and boat policy or the agent’s name and phone number or the 800 number for your insurers.
• Take valuable items from your boat - take the loran, GPS, registration papers and log books. Do not try to weather a storm on board your boat.
• Collect supplies if you’re staying home - make sure you have food, water, medical supplies, batteries, candles and pet supplies for three to five days. Don’t stock up the refrigerator, but do turn the temperature to its lowest setting so food will last longer if you lose power. Stay indoors and avoid trees and flying debris.

Follow these instructions after the storm:
• Contact your insurer - advise your insurer of the damage. Give them a phone number where you can be reached, especially if you have relocated temporarily.
• Prepare an inventory of the damage - take photos. Keep track of money spent and keep receipts. Make temporary repairs if necessary.
• Check on your secondary home - make arrangements with a realtor or property manager to inspect it. Even if there are no visible signs of damage on the exterior there may be interior water damage.

Helpful Web sites:
• www.disasterinforamtion.org
• www.boatus.com

Donna J. Popow J.D., CPCU, AIC, is senior director of knowledge resources at the American Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America (the Institutes) in Malvern, Pa. She has responsibility for all aspects of claims education including the Associate in Claims designation program and the Introduction to Claims certificate program, which are among the Institutes’ numerous educational offerings. Ms. Popow can be reached at popow (at) cpcuiia (dot) org.

Feel free to use this article as a bylined article in your publication or Web site or to quote from it as needed. Please contact Kara Davis at (610) 644-2100, ext. 7851 or davis (at) cpcuiia (dot) org for more information or if we can help you with property-casualty insurance issues related to other stories.

© 2009 American Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America
www.aicpcu.org

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Hurricane/Insurance/prweb2527364.htm

After running through more than a dozen amendments, the Insurance, Business and Financial Affairs Committee approved a bill to make the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. a last-resort insurer. The measure would also draw down the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund obligations by several billion dollars.

“We’ve got a problem,” Catastrophe Fund manager Jack Nicholson told the committee. “Solvency could be an issue.”

Neither Citizens, which has about 1.1 million policies, or the Catastrophe Fund have enough money to pay claims if a major hurricane - or series of damaging storms in highly populated areas - hits Florida this year.

The state has escaped serious hurricane damage the past three years.

But a solution to reduce the financial liability for taxpayers and insurance consumers has been elusive for just as long while the risk on Florida taxpayers grows in part as a result of a global recession.

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