Hurricane Ian: One Year Later

2023 • HURRICANE IAN: ONE YEAR LATER • 13 PHOTO PROVIDED An Englewood favorite, Country Hound Café was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian. FL LICENSE # CCC1331320 941-441-5383 LOOK!!! IT'S A METAL ROOF •Won't crack or break •Exceeds Miami-Dade wind uplift requirements •50 year transferable warranty adno=3902755-1 IS YOUR TILE ROOF IN THIS MOUNTAIN FROM IAN? THERE IS A BETTER WAY!!! subject of an in-depth Washington Post story on Florida's problems with insurance companies leaving and the impact low-ball claims had after Hurricane Ian. The story chronicled the couple's situation as of August this year. Sacks, the Post reporter, wrote their roof still leaks after its protective tarp began disintigrating. There is a hole in their ceiling, insulation covers the inside of their home and their fl oors are swollen. Ed said their situation was like living in "hell" and United Property and Casualty ignored their claims for months and then offered them a low settlement before the company declared insolvency. "I never missed a payment. I expected (UPC) to do what they said in my contract and return my house to what it was like the day before the hurricane hit." According to the Post story, UPC left FIGA with about 22,000 claims to settle. "The reality of zero state assistance in immediately rectifying the insurance difficulties is unfathomable," said Teri Ashley, a Florida resident her whole life and the former director of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, in an email to The Daily Sun. "We're talking thousands of day-to- day, up-and-down-the-street folks being misled, pressured, bullied, insulted, and, lastly, ignored by their insurance carriers and/or contractors," Ashley went on. "An easy social media scouring, particularly of Nextdoor, verifi es this. There are many, many posted stories, including those of people at their wit's ends comparing problems and asking each other what to do. Seriously, this is all a truly heartbreaking debacle." The Florida Legislature passed bills in 2021 and 2022 trying to rectify the problems that had been looming for so long. While many claim the bills did more to help insurance companies and their customers, lawmakers argue it will take a year or two so see any difference in premiums. They will also point out that some new insurance companies have begun to explore doing business in Florida — most of them prior to Hurricane Idalia. And, at least one person who replied to The Daily Sun's invitation to discuss his insurance experience was positive. "Just a quick comment that not all insurance companies are bad," said Gregory DeNinno. "I have Homeowners Choice simply through dumb luck, but they were awesome. "I had an adjuster in the house a week after the hurricane and a check two weeks after the hurricane. In the end, I paid nothing for my roof replacement. I know your article is about all the bad companies but remember there are a few good ones out there." No Answers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 SUN FILE PHOTO Teri Ashley

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