Volume 1 Number 34
August 23, 2004










TEXT VERSION

“If you are going through hell,” Sir Winston Churchill once said, “keep going. 

While meeting last week with people whose homes and lives were devastated by Hurricane Charley, I had that thought running through my mind.  Hurricane Charley mapped a destructive course from Sanibel Island through Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Arcadia, Lakeland, Orlando and Daytona Beach.  The destruction is extreme, and so are the emotions and hardships that residents and business owners are facing in the aftermath.

But the only way through it is, just that, through it.  And a lot of organizations and individuals have responded with assistance.  First there were those who were on the scene even before the hurricane hit, prepared with ice, water, food and various necessities.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency also was on stand-by, as were the state’s Emergency Operations Center response teams.   

The day after the storm hit, I mobilized the Department of Financial Services’ Mobile Response Unit, and dispatched nearly 100 insurance specialists and investigators.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office, as the lead EOC agency for search and rescue,  coordinated 300 firefighters and emergency personnel and provided equipment to help clear roads to facilitate searches.

While victims of Hurricane Charley may feel alone, they are not.  I and all of the employees of the Department of Financial Services will continue to work to help each of you get back on your feet.  We will continue to work on the ground and through our toll-free storm line at 1-800-22-STORM (227-8676). 

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

 Pensacola from the bay is our skyline for August.

                                    

GALLAGHER, INSURANCE EXECUTIVES TOUR STORM-DAMAGED AREAS

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher took executives from several major insurance companies on aerial and ground tours of areas devastated by Hurricane Charley. Gallagher organized the visit so that executives charged with quickly paying claims in the storm’s aftermath could gain a personal understanding of the hardships faced by thousands of Floridians.

“For the victims of Hurricane Charley, there is real human tragedy,” Gallagher said. “That’s why I asked insurance executives to travel to Florida to see firsthand and meet personally with those affected by the storm, to ensure a prompt and compassionate response from insurance companies.” CONTINUED
 

CFO GALLAGHER WILL ASK CABINET TO PROVIDE 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS, NONRENEWALS

Gallagher also urges banks, credit unions to be flexible with loans and credit

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher will ask Governor Jeb Bush and other members of the Florida Cabinet for authorization to give the hardest-hit victims of Hurricane Charley a 60-day grace period for premium payments and non-renewals.

Gallagher will ask to extend these measures through October 15 to storm victims in Brevard, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Lake, Lee, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia counties, which have been declared as substantially effected counties.

Gallagher already is asking banks and credit unions to consider increasing credit card limits and credit lines, reducing or eliminating late fees on loans, granting temporary loan payment extensions, allowing customers to skip a loan or credit card payment, expediting loan applications, and waiving ATM and check-cashing fees for storm victims, even if they are not accountholders.
CONTINUED
 
 

 

 

 GALLAGHER URGES BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH LOANS AND CREDIT FOR CUSTOMERS AFFECTED BY CHARLEY

At a meeting with Florida’s banking industry, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher asked industry officials to offer a compassionate response to Floridians dealing with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Charley.

“I’m asking financial institutions to reach out and help the thousands of storm victims by increasing credit limits, eliminating fees for services and granting loan payment extensions,” Gallagher said. “When disaster strikes, we must all stand together to help those in need, and I’m proud to partner with Florida’s banking industry in getting our citizens on the road to recovery.” CONTINUED
 

GALLAGHER BANS PUBLIC ADJUSTERS FROM REQUIRING CASH UP FRONT AND CAPS EXCESSIVE FEES

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher issued an emergency rule banning public adjusters from requiring cash up front to adjust claims for victims of Hurricane Charley.  Gallagher also limited public adjuster fees to 10 percent of the claim amount to prevent Floridians from being overcharged.

“By limiting fees, it’s our hope that homeowners and business owners dealing with the aftermath of the storm know what to expect and aren’t scammed and gouged financially by public adjusters inflating their fees,” said Gallagher, who oversees the Department of Financial Services.  CONTINUED
 

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY COUPLE CHARGED IN FIRE DEATH

An Okaloosa County couple was arrested Monday evening in Dumas, Texas, on charges relating to a mobile home arson that occurred on May 2, 2004, at 148 Barks Drive, Lot 7, in Ft. Walton Beach. One occupant, Loretta Stanley, died in the fire. 

Felicia Kennedy, 46, and her husband Gary Kennedy, 40, also of 148 Barks Drive, Lot 7, are charged with arson, manslaughter and two counts of attempted felony murder. Detectives from the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office, the Dumas Police Department, and the Texas Rangers assisted in the apprehension of the Kennedys.  The Kennedys will be extradited to Okaloosa County to stand trial. CONTINUED