November 3, 2016 11:18 a.m.
Fall is a beautiful time on the First Coast, and when paired with the excitement of the Fair, Friday night football games and so many other November events, our area is a special place to be this time of year. But this year, there is also the sobering devastation that was caused by Hurricane Matthew. Both Duval and Nassau Counties were hit hard by Matthew, and many of our fellow residents are currently struggling to put their lives back together. In this newsletter, I have included information on insurance claims and post-hurricane assistance. I hope you will share this information with your family and friends because it could make all the difference in the recovery from Hurricane Matthew. I also ask that you pray for our neighbors and fellow residents because we must work together to help them pick up the pieces after this serious disaster. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if we can help you with anything related to Hurricane Matthew.
It’s an honor to serve you, and as always, I encourage you to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have regarding proposed legislation or assistance. My staff and I are always happy to help.
Senator Bean provides the information below to help citizens deal with hurricane aftermath.
FEMA just announced additional counties that are eligible for individual and public assistance. Individual assistance is now available in Duval, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River Counties. Public assistance is now available in Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Martin, Indian River and Volusia Counties. There are still counties that were impacted by the storm that have not been approved for this federal funding.
For more information or to apply for assistance, you have three options:
Online at disasterassistance.gov
On the FEMA Mobile App
Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is also available in Duval, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia Counties. Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, assists individuals who become unemployed as a direct result of a federally declared disaster and who do not qualify for regular reemployment assistance benefits. The program also covers self-employed individuals, owners of farms and ranches, farm and ranch workers, as well as fishers and others who are not normally covered by state reemployment assistance benefits.
Deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia Counties is November 18th; Duval County is November 23rd and Nassau County is November 29th. To file a Disaster Unemployment claim, go to connect.myflorida.com or call 1-800-681-8102.
Additionally, here are some tips you may find helpful:
Flood Claim Disputes
If your Flood insurance coverage is provided by an insurance company from the voluntary market and you have a claim dispute, please call the CFO’s toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236. One of their insurance experts will be happy to contact your insurance company on your behalf to assist in resolving your claim. You may also consider participating in their Mediation Program to seek resolution. Additional information about their Mediation Program can be obtained here.
If your Flood insurance coverage is provided by the National Flood Insurance Program either directly or through a “Write Your Own Company” and you have a claim dispute, you must follow FEMA’s claim dispute process outlined in their Flood Insurance Claims Handbook.
Visit www.floodsmart.gov to obtain additional information about flood insurance provided by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Contact your Homeowner’s Insurance Company to obtain additional information about flood insurance provided by the voluntary market.
Consumer Tips for Recovery after a Loss:
If it is safe, carefully assess your home and property for damage. As soon as you are able, take pictures of any damage. These photos will be helpful when filing an insurance claim. Maintain copies of your household inventory and other documentation. This will assist the adjuster in assessing the value of the destroyed property.
If you have damage, contact your insurance company directly as soon as possible to file a claim. Insurance adjusters have already been deployed into impacted areas to help manage your claims.
Do not allow a third party, such as a water remediation firm or contractor, to contact your insurance company for you.
If you are asked to sign an Assignment of Benefits form by a contractor, make sure you read it carefully and understand clearly what rights and benefits under your insurance policy you may be signing away. You do not need to sign an AOB in order to get your insurance claim processed or your residence repaired.
Signing over your insurance benefits to a contractor may cause an increase in costs for which you could be left on the hook. Make sure that you stay in control of the home insurance policy you bought and paid for, and do not sign away that control to a third party who may not have your best interests at heart.
When possible, take steps to make temporary repairs that can help prevent further damage from occurring. Keep your receipts for any repairs or supplies you purchase. You may be reimbursed as part of your claim.
FEMA Fraud Alert
There have been reports of persons in the Volusia County area impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel. Official FEMA personnel will display their identification badges, should provide identification without hesitation if asked, and say why they are in the area (i.e. surveying damage, providing assistance to residents, etc.).
FEMA personnel or its contractors do not request payment for services.
If you are in need of assistance from FEMA, contact the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or contact your local emergency management organization.
If you suspect that someone is impersonating FEMA personnel in our area, please call 911 or contact the local police department or sheriff’s office immediately.
Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) Scam
In other service areas, police have received reports of persons impersonating Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) employees in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The impersonators are reportedly driving white vans and wearing hard hats. Consumers should be aware that all FPL employees will have official identification, as will all company contractors. Additionally, there is no reason for FPL employees to access homes.
If you notice or are approached by someone claiming to represent FPL or any other local, state or federal agency, request identification. Do not allow a representative in your home unless you have confirmed their identity. You may also call the company directly to determine if it has representatives in the area. If you suspect suspicious activity or do not feel comfortable, call 911 immediately.
Additional Fraud Tips
Be on alert! Scammers will pop up after a storm. Be on alert for them. Call the Department of Financial Services’ Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
Be wary of fly-by-night repair companies. A quick fix is not always a good thing. Ask to see the identification and professional license of anyone who comes to your house offering to help with repairs. You can verify a contractor’s license and check to see if there are any complaints against them by calling the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at (850) 487-1395. Also ask for references from previous work and be sure to report unlicensed contractors.
All legitimate contractors must carry insurance. Ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation coverage, then verify it by calling the Division of Workers’ Compensation at 1-800-742-2214.
Don’t rush into signing a contract. If you hire someone to make repairs, fully read all work agreements before signing. Ask questions until you fully understand the documents and ask directly whether you as the homeowner or your insurance company will be responsible for payment. Be on the lookout for language that gives the contractor the right to communicate or negotiate directly with your insurance company or language that requires all claim proceeds to be made payable to the contractor.
If someone calls you on the phone asking for personal information, ask for a call-back number and hang up. Do not provide any information immediately. Legitimate organizations will cooperate.
Do not post personal details on social media sites. Post to let friends and family know that you’re safe, but do not post your home address and do not advertise that you are away from home. Criminals are opportunists! They know that an empty home is an easy target!
If you encounter suspicious activity of any kind, report it immediately! If it’s happening to you, it’s happening to someone else, too. Call our Consumer Helpline to report fraud at 1-877-693-5236.
If you encounter any instances of price gouging call the Office of the Attorney General at 1-866-966-7226.