Volume 2 Number 29 July 18, 2005

TEXT VERSION

The hurricane season of 2004 was unprecedented, with four catastrophic storms making landfall within 45 days. Many lessons have been learned from these storms – including the importance of a coordinated emergency response effort, which our office was proud to be involved in, and the level of assistance needed to help thousands of consumers with their insurance concerns and struggles.  We also learned of the unpredictability of where hurricanes may strike, and as a result, we are seriously heeding storm warnings and proactively protecting our homes and families. That was less than a year ago.   Now we are dealing with the havoc that Hurricane Dennis has wreaked in the Florida Panhandle, causing as much as $3 billion in insured and economic damages.  Storm surge was as high as 12 feet in some areas, flooding thousands of homes and businesses from Pensacola over to Apalachee Bay.    Many of the people I spoke with while visiting storm-ravaged areas last week were shocked and dismayed to see their homes and streets buried in sand.  I’m extremely concerned for those who have not only lost their homes but have lost their livelihoods, especially those in the seafood industry.    We can, and we will, recover.  And Floridians should know that we will do whatever we can to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible.   Equally important is to remind all Floridians that experts predict this will be a very active hurricane season so take steps now to protect yourself and your property, including purchasing flood insurance. Call us at 1-800-22STORM.  We’re here to help. Walton County was created in 1824, shortly after Florida became a territory of the United States. The courthouse is in the county seat of DeFuniak Springs.

GALLAGHER ISSUES EMERGENCY RULE CAPPING PUBLIC ADJUSTER FEES TO PROTECT STORM VICTIMS Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher has issued an emergency rule to protect victims of Hurricane Dennis by capping public adjuster fees at 10 percent of claim payment and giving consumers up to 14 days to rescind a contract with a public adjuster without penalty. The emergency rule also prohibits public adjusters from demanding or accepting any type of compensation prior to the settlement of the claim. "The people of  Florida have suffered enough, and we are going to do all we can to further protect them during the recovery period," Gallagher said.  Gallagher oversees the Department of Financial Services and has activated a storm hotline, 1-800-22-STORM (1-800-227-8676), to help storm victims with questions or complaints they may have with filing an insurance claim. CONTINUED

GALLAGHER ANNOUNCES UPDATE TO HURRICANE RECOVERY EFFORTS Florida's Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher announced  that the Department of Financial Services has established a second mobile response unit in Destin and is also located in four disaster recovery centers being operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "We will have personnel in the area for as long as it takes to help residents get back on their feet," said Gallagher, who oversees the department and also serves as State Fire Marshal. Gallagher opened the department's first mobile response unit in Milton at the Gateway Plaza, located at 6588 Caroline St. and the second mobile unit is open at the Home Depot, 4385 Commons Drive, in Destin. The mobile units will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CONTINUED

STATE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY AUCTION TO BE HELD JULY 30 IN FORT LAUDERDALE Jewelry, coins, antiques and collectibles will be among approximately 40,000 items to be auctioned later this month by the state to benefit Florida’s public schools.  Among the items are a 14-karat gold purse, a 5-carat sapphire ring, and an 1889 CC Morgan silver dollar. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher is urging potential bidders to mark their calendars for July 29 and July 30 to attend the auction at the Wyndham Hotel, 1870 Griffin Road, in Ft. Lauderdale.  The preview will be held July 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the auction will begin at 9 a.m. on the July 30.  A live simulcast of the auction will also be available at http://www.fisherauction.com.  “This has been a record-setting year in the amount of unclaimed items reported to the state and the number of items we have been able to return to owners,” Gallagher said.  “We would like to be able to return all of the items to the rightful owners, but that just doesn’t always happen, so this is an opportunity to find some unique items and help Florida’s school children all at the same time.”  CONTINUED

Rand Napoli

STATE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION DIRECTOR RAND NAPOLI HONORED State Fire Marshal Tom Gallagher is pleased to announce that  Rand Napoli was named State Fire Marshal of the Year - Fire Prevention by the National Association of State Fire Marshals in Reno, Nevada, at their annual conference.  State Fire Marshal Gallagher appointed Rand director of the division of State Fire Marshal in 2001. “Rand is an exceptional leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job, " Gallagher said. "Fire prevention is everyone's concern, and Rand helps create and direct our consumer education programs on prevention and safety."  CONTINUED

GALLAGHER ANNOUNCES ARRESTS FOR AUTO ‘DITCHING’ Cases result in more than $120,000 in fraudulent insurance claims Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher announced today that detectives with the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF), working with the Palm Beach County Multi-Agency Auto Theft Task Force, assisted in the arrests of eight individuals accused of “ditching” their vehicles and claiming them stolen in order to collect more than $120,000 in auto insurance benefits. The hitch:  they “ditched” the vehicles by selling them to undercover officers.  In the past fiscal year, DIF has arrested 20 south Florida residents for similar offenses.  Auto insurance fraud is estimated to cost the average Florida family as much as $240 a year. "Floridians will not tolerate footing the bill for this kind of fraud," said Gallagher, who oversees the department.  "We will continue to work aggressively to uncover these schemes and bring these offenders to justice, and we are proud to partner with the Palm Beach County Multi-Agency Auto Theft Task Force." CONTINUED

REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION  CONCERNING ARSON AT THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA  Detectives with the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations are conducting an on-going investigation of an intentionally set fire that occurred on July 6, 2005 at 5:53 a.m. that damaged the Islamic Society of Central Florida located at 2200 Harrell Road, Orlando, Florida 32817.    Significant information has been received providing information on vehicles that were seen in the area at the time the fire occurred.  The Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention (FACAP) is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that might further this investigation. If you, or someone you know, have pertinent information concerning this arson fire, please contact one of the following:    Detective Arnie Amoros – 407-893-3654 Captain John Corbett – 407-893-3654 Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention – 1-877-NO ARSON  YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS The Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is the law enforcement branch of the Division of State Fire Marshal.  Anyone with information about any suspicious fire is asked to call 1-877-662-7766 (1-877-NOARSON).  Information also may be mailed to Arson Control, P.O. Box 1654, Winter Park, Florida, 32790.