 |
Volume 5 Number 11
March 14, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
CONSUMER
SERVICES HELPLINE
800-342-2762 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This week, CFO Sink
launched a statewide public awareness campaign highlighting
www.MySafeFloridaHome.com—a
Web site where Floridians can apply online for free wind inspections and
learn how to strengthen their homes against hurricanes and windstorm damage.
Click here to watch the
commercials
The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program has provided more
than 172,000 free wind inspections to Floridians. Homeowners receive a wind
inspection report, which suggests ways homeowners can harden their homes
against storm damage and informs homeowners if they are currently eligible
to save money on their wind insurance premiums.
Through the program, more than 70 percent of homeowners receiving free wind
inspections have learned they are already eligible for an average savings of
$224—without making a single improvement. Some Floridians may also be
eligible to apply for matching tax-free grants of up to $5,000 to make
improvements to their homes. To date, the MSFH program has given 4,402
homeowners grants totaling more than $14.3 million, with an additional
15,000 homeowners currently working with the program to make improvements on
their homes.
Visit www.MySafeFloridaHome.com
today and sign up for your free wind inspection - it is worth the four
minutes it takes to apply!
|
|
|
CFO SINK ADDRESSES FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION IN TALLAHASSEE
CFO Alex Sink addressed the Florida Bankers Association this week during
their Capitol Days about reducing the risk of insurance assessments, the
rising impact of mortgage foreclosures and the My Safe Florida Home Program.
Addressing the group, Sink commented on the increased rates of mortgage
fraud and mortgage foreclosure in Florida. She encouraged Florida's
bankers to work with Floridians facing foreclosure to prevent them from
losing their homes. She also encouraged the group to work with
Florida's lawmakers and the governor's mortgage foreclosure task force to
develop solutions to help homeowners.”
Finally, Sink encouraged the group to apply for a free wind mitigation
inspection from the My Safe Florida Home Program, which is helping
Floridians qualify for an average savings of $225 per year on homeowners
insurance. She asked the companies to tell their employees about the
program and its efforts to help harden Florida homes against hurricanes.
Sink also encouraged the bankers to have a wind mitigation inspection from
the My Safe Florida Home Program that is helping Floridians qualify for an
average savings of $225 per year on homeowners insurance, and to tell their
employees about the program and its matching grants component to help harden
Florida homes against hurricanes.
|
|
The Tallahassee Boys Choir moved the audience with their performance in
honor of
Justice Barbara
Pariente, Dr. Pallavi Patel, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen..
|
THREE WOMEN LEADERS INDUCTED INTO FLORIDA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME
CFO Sink participated in the induction of three outstanding public servants
into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame Tuesday. Justice Barbara Pariente, Dr.
Pallavi Patel, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were recognized for
breaking down barriers and blazing new paths to better the people of our
state through their work in the legal, political and medical communities.
As a woman, mother, and public servant, CFO Sink thanked the women for being
a progressive force for change in our state, and for opening the doors to
future generations of young woman who seek to follow in their footsteps.
|
|
FIU’s Wall of Wind and International Hurricane Research Center conducts
ground breaking research in the areas of hurricane mitigation and recovery. |
CFO SINK OBSERVES
IMPACT OF CATEGORY THREE HURRICANES AT FIU'S WALL OF WIND
CFO Alex Sink toured Florida International University’s Wall of Wind (FIU)
at the International Hurricane Research Center in Miami on March 7, 2008.
At the Wall of Wind, CFO Sink observed the impact
of Category Three hurricane winds on a structure built to meet the current
hurricane code.
Joined by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, director of the International Hurricane
Research Center, CFO Sink also learned about new products available to help
Florida’s homeowners’ harden their homes to better survive damage.
|
|
 |
CFO SINK ADDRESSES
WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS IN LAKELAND
This week, the National Association of Women
Business Owners, Lakeland Chapter, honored the nominees for their Women of
Distinction awards, with CFO Sink as featured speaker.
Emphasizing the multi-tasking skills that
women have in the management of their businesses, CFO Sink noted that women
are more likely to emphasize relationship building as well as fact gathering
and will consult with experts, employees and fellow business owners when an
issue needs a solution. Her point was made that women put their problem
solving skills to work to allow success at work, at home and in the
community.
|
|
|
CFO SINK DISCUSSES FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WITH
REGIONAL CHAMBER MEMBERS
This week CFO Sink spoke with members of the Central Florida, Southwest
Florida, and Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce about legislative issues and
her first year in office.
Highlighting her role as a fiscal watchdog, she addressed
her proposal to reduce the risk of insurance assessments, efforts to improve
the My Safe Florida Home program, and her role on the governor's Mortgage
Foreclosure Task Force.
|
|
 |
MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME INSPECTION PROGRAM USES
HUMOR TO SPOTLIGHT MONEY-SAVING BENEFITS
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) launched a
statewide public awareness campaign highlighting
www.MySafeFloridaHome.com—a
Web site where Floridians can apply online for free wind inspections and
learn how to strengthen their homes against hurricanes and windstorm damage.
The commercials asking, “How fast can you save money?” compare the ease of
applying for a free wind inspection, which can lead to discounts on
homeowners wind insurance, to other satirical things people might do to save
money. Floridians in every part of the state will be exposed to the humorous
promotional campaign on either TV or radio through May, including
commercials in Spanish and Haitian-Creole.
Click graphic to play via
QuickTime. (Download
free)
The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program, re-launched by Chief Financial
Officer Alex Sink in April 2007, has provided more than 172,000 free wind
inspections to Floridians. Homeowners receive a wind inspection report,
which suggests ways homeowners can harden their homes against storm damage
and informs homeowners if they are currently eligible to save money on their
wind insurance premiums.
CONTINUED
|
|
Money-Smart
Idea of the Week
Every week, look here for a “Money-Smart” idea from
the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. |
|
|
Idea:
In honor of Woman’s History Month, CFO Sink
is stressing the importance of financial planning and saving for women.
Financial planning among women is essential for the following reasons: women
typically make less than men, generally spend a shorter amount of time in
the workplace causing them to be eligible for less financial benefits, and
tend to live longer than men.
Each pay day; pay yourself first.
·Put a portion of your money into a Deferred Compensation Plan, 401K,
establish an account with a Financial Planner or at the least put money into
a personal savings account with your bank or credit union ($25 - $50.00).
Do it through direct deposit. That way you don’t see the money and it does
not have to pass through your hands.
Begin your investment or savings program early.
There is no age limit. Begin as soon as you start to work. You won’t
believe how fast it can grow and you will have those emergency funds when
you need them.
Be in control of your life and your future.
The best way to do that is by being financially independent. Remember
to keep the message alive and pass it on to other female members of the
family.
For more financial savings tips click here
http://www.myfloridamoney.com/FLSaves.htm |
|
|
|
CFO SINK ANNOUNCES PALM
BEACH COUNTY
PIP FRAUD ARREST
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced the arrest of a Palm
Beach County man on Personal Injury Protection (PIP) fraud charges. This
week’s arrest concludes the arrest of four South Florida residents on
charges they perpetrated a PIP fraud scheme.
Werbs Prevot, 25, of Lake Worth, is accused of participating in a staged
traffic accident and subsequently submitting bodily injury claims to
Republic Western Insurance (REPWEST) Company. To date, REPWEST has paid
$32,511.33 in expenses related to Prevot’s claim. Prevot, arrested Monday,
is charged with one count of insurance fraud, a third degree felony and
could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
“Personal Injury Protection is in place to help protect and safeguard
Florida drivers, CFO Sink said. “My department’s fraud investigators are
dedicated to finding and prosecuting people like Prevot who seek to abuse
this system.”
The charges stem from investigations by the Department of Financial
Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF), a sworn statewide law
enforcement agency responsible for the investigation of insurance fraud. The
DIF made more than 800 insurance fraud-related arrests in the last fiscal
year.
Insurance fraud in Florida has been estimated to cost Floridians as much as
$1,400 a year per family. The DIF investigates various forms of fraud in
insurance, including health, life, auto, property and workers' compensation
insurance. Depending on the estimated loss amount, the department will pay
up to $25,000 for information directly leading to an arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information about this or any other suspected insurance fraud is
asked to call the department's Fraud Fighters Hotline at 1-800-378-0445 or
log on to www.MyFloridaCFO.com/fraud. Complaints can be tracked online.
|
|
 |
CFO SINK: BARTOW MAN ARRESTED FOR ARSON; FIRE DAMAGES
TOTAL OVER $22-MILLION
Local Firefighters spent four days on site extinguishing flair-ups
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced the arrest of a Polk
County man on charges he set fire to a metal warehouse, causing over
$22-million in damages and keeping 309 employees out of work for about 3
months.
Efrain “Frankie” Castro, 23, was arrested in Lakes Wales Thursday, on
charges of first degree arson. The arrest follows a seven month
investigation by The State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire and Arson, into
allegations Castro set fire to Flanders Precision Aire Factory located at
1051 Palmetto Ave. The fire is believed to have originated by the ignition
of stock boxes located on the side of the building. At the time of the fire,
153 employees were working.
“Arson is an extremely dangerous and costly event,” CFO Sink said. “We are
lucky nobody was injured in this enormous fire and will see to it this
individual is held accountable for his reckless actions.”
Though a dollar amount on damages from the fire is not final, it is
estimated to have cause over $22-million in damages.
The Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is a law enforcement branch of
the Division of State Fire Marshal that assists other state and local fire
and law enforcement agencies in the investigation of fires of suspicious
origin. Anyone with information about this case or any incident of fire is
asked to call 1-877-662-7766 (1-877-NOARSON).
|
|
Salty, NOAA Flood Safety Awareness Bird
Monday:
Advanced Hydrologic
Prediction Service (AHPS)
Tuesday:
Turn Around Don't Drown™
(T
Wednesday:
Floods, Droughts and other Related Phenomena
Thursday:
Flood
Insurance
Friday:
Flood Safety
|
NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS THE TIME TO REVIEW
YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is pleased to
support The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA)-sponsored
2008 National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 17-21.
Floods threaten homes from coast to coast - and they can happen anytime,
anywhere and without warning. The damage from a flood is not covered under a
standard homeowners policy. Before snowmelt and spring rains bring the
potential for flooding, the NAIC suggests all homeowners and renters review
their flood insurance needs.
What is a flood?
A flood is an excess of water (or mud) on land that is normally dry. The
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) defines flood to be a general and
temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres
of normally dry land area, or of two or more properties (at least one of
which is the policyholder’s property) from:
Overflow of inland or tidal waters; Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff
of surface waters from any source; Mudflow; or Collapse or subsidence of
land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of
erosion or undermining, caused by waves or currents of water exceeding
anticipated cyclical levels.
What is Flood Insurance?
Flood insurance is a special policy that is federally backed by the NFIP and
available for homeowners, renters and businesses.
The standard flood insurance policy pays for direct physical damage to your
insured property up to the replacement cost or actual cash value (ACV) of
actual damages or the policy limit of liability, whichever is less.
CONTINUED
|
|
