Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Oklahoma City – Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak announced Tuesday the formation of a catastrophe response task force to coordinate efforts of the department and the industry in the aftermath of the winter storm.
“This is the first time the department has joined with the industry to coordinate efforts in the aftermath of a catastrophe such as this,” Doak said. “Undoubtedly, both consumers and insurers will face challenges in the days ahead and we want to eliminate or reduce as many barriers to a prompt recovery that we can.”
Paul Wilkening, Deputy Commissioner of Administration, will represent the Insurance Department on the task force, said Doak. Wilkening is a master exercise practitioner for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a member of the instructor cadre at FEMA’s National Emergency Training Center, Emergency Management Institute. He is the first person at the Insurance Department to hold the certification, Doak noted.
“It seems likely Oklahomans are going to be picking up the pieces left by the storm for some time,” Wilkening said. “It is important that Oklahomans keep themselves safe, protect their property and work with their insurance provider to begin the recovery process.”
Kim Decker, Oklahoma Government Affairs Senior Representative with Farmers Insurance Group, and John Wiscaver, Oklahoma Public Affairs Director with State Farm Insurance, will co-chair the response task force, Doak said. Wiscaver, was actively involved in coordinating his company’s response to Hurricane Katrina, Doak noted.
“These two professionals bring a wealth of experience to this effort and will provide valuable information to the Insurance Department so we can help the industry and consumers recover from the aftermath of this devastating storm,” Doak said.
Doak said he, Wilkening and his staff will maintain regular contact with Decker and Wiscaver so that potential problems can be identified and addressed before they negatively affect Oklahomans and their insurers.
“Oklahomans who will be working with their insurance providers already will have suffered some sort of loss,” Doak said. “It’s important that their loss not be compounded and that the industry not be hampered as it attempts to help Oklahomans. That is what this task force will be working to prevent.”
Commissioner Doak also offered the followed advice tips for Oklahomans dealing with damage from the winter storm:
What to Do if Your Home is Damaged:
Call your insurance company or agent with your policy number and all relevant information as soon as possible. Cooperate fully with your company or agent, asking what forms, documents and data you will need to provide in order to process your claim.
Take photos or video of the damage.
Make the necessary repairs to prevent further damage to the property (for instance, covering broken windows, leaking roofs and damaged walls), but do not have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected the property and you have reached an agreement with them on the cost of appropriate repairs.
Save all receipts, including those from the temporary repairs that might be covered by your insurance policy.
If your home is damaged to the extent that it is unlivable, ask your insurance provider if you have coverage for living expenses incurred while repairs are being made. Save all receipts to document these costs.
What Damage to Your Home is Covered?
Commissioner Doak cautions that the following weather-related events are usually not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies:
Interior storm-water damage when there was no damage to the home’s roof or walls
Flood damages
Removal of fallen trees from the property, unless those trees land on and damage the roof and walls of the home
Food spoilage due to power outages
Water damage from backed-up drains or sewers
Stay Safe and Protect Your Investment To protect both your family and your home, the OID and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer these tips for avoiding typical and dangerous cold-weather-related household incidents:
Use fireplaces, wood stoves or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak flue gas into indoor spaces. Do not burn paper in a fireplace and use only the type of fuel your heater was designed to use; make no substitutions.
Do not place a space heater within three feet of anything that might catch on fire.
Store a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher near the areas where you are using supplemental heat sources like fireplaces, wood stoves or space heaters.
Protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning by installing battery-operated detectors, and by never using generators, grills, camp stoves or similar devices indoors.
Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles, if possible, and never leave candles unattended.
Do not use the generator or any other appliance if it is wet, to avoid risk of electrocution.
Do not store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite.
When to Contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department If you have a dispute with your insurer or agent about the amount or terms of a claim settlement, Commissioner Doak encourages you to contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at http://oid.ok.gov or (800) 522-0071.
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ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.