With Hurricane Dorian making its way through the Caribbean, state Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis called for residents of the Sunshine State to be prepared on insurance matters in case it hits Florida.
Patronis weighed in on the storm on Wednesday.
“We are at the peak of the 2019 Hurricane Season and Floridians should pay attention to the path of Hurricane Dorian over the next few days. Now is the time to follow easy insurance preparation steps to make sure you can file claims quickly if disaster strikes,” Patronis said.
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner David Altmaier also urged Floridians to get ready for the storm.
“With the current predicted track of Hurricane Dorian showing a potential impact to Florida, my office expects insurers to be accessible and responsive to policyholders before and after the storm. Floridians should prepare now so that they are ready should this storm make landfall,” Altmaier said on Wednesday.
The CFO’s office offered “Disaster Preparedness Tips” for Floridians:
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- Gather important insurance and financial documents. Take copies of your legal, financial and medical documents with you, including bank statements, insurance policies, mortgage information, wills, birth certificates, passports and medical prescriptions. Keep these copies in a plastic bag for safe keeping.
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- Conduct a home inventory. Pull together an itemized list of your belongings, including costs, purchase dates and serial numbers. Attach receipts, especially for “big ticket” items. Snap photos of valuables in your home. Dated photographs or taking a video of your possessions on your phone can help during the claims process after a storm. Your insurance company may require proof of the cost of any item for which you make a claim.
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- Know your insurance contacts. Write down the names of your agent and agency, your insurance company, your policy number and telephone numbers to report claims. Remember that the name of your insurance company might differ from that of your agent, agency or underwriter. Save CFO Patronis’ Insurance Helpline number in your phone (1-877-MY-FL-CFO).
The CFO’s office also urged Floridians to visit the PrepareFL.com website for helpful resources to prepare and recover from a storm.
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