For private flood insurance companies, the government shutdown is good for business
For private flood insurance companies, the government shutdown is good for business

Among those feeling the pain of the government shutdown are people in coastal areas and other locations where they need flood insurance. The government-backed National Flood Insurance Program stopped writing new policies on Oct. 1 and can’t resume until it’s reauthorized by Congress. That may…
NAACP Pasadena Acts to Prepare Vulnerable Communities for Next Disaster
NAACP Pasadena Acts to Prepare Vulnerable Communities for Next Disaster

September workshop asks the question haunting fire survivors: “If you had 30 minutes to evacuate, do you know what you would take?” The January Eaton Fire didn’t just burn structures—it exposed how catastrophically unprepared locate communities were for natural climate disasters, with widespread underinsurance a…
Flying Cameras Are Snapping Photos of Houses for Insurers. Will a California Bill Help Homeowners See Them?
Flying Cameras Are Snapping Photos of Houses for Insurers. Will a California Bill Help Homeowners See Them?

Airborne cameras are taking pictures of individual houses across the U.S. Insurance companies use the photos to inspect buildings after extreme weather, from hurricanes to hailstorms. But they also use them to determine which homes are too risky to insure. A bill in California—a state…
Florida Peninsula Insurance announces rate reduction request that will benefit ‘about 80,000 policyholders’
Florida Peninsula Insurance announces rate reduction request that will benefit ‘about 80,000 policyholders’

Florida Peninsula Insurance is seeking a rate reduction of 8.4% on homeowners policies and 12% on condo policies, according to an announcement from the Boca Raton-based company. “Given that everything seems to be going up right now, the cost of living, food, housing and everything…
Schiff revives INSURE Act to create federal reinsurance program
Schiff revives INSURE Act to create federal reinsurance program

US Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has reintroduced the Incorporating National Support for Unprecedented Risks and Emergencies (INSURE) Act, legislation aimed at addressing instability in the residential insurance market through the creation of a federal catastrophic reinsurance program. The bill proposes a federally backed reinsurance mechanism…
Sen. Schiff Introduces Bill to Stabilize Insurance Market, Protect Homeowners from Increased Costs of Natural Disasters
Sen. Schiff Introduces Bill to Stabilize Insurance Market, Protect Homeowners from Increased Costs of Natural Disasters

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Incorporating National Support for Unprecedented Risks and Emergencies (INSURE) Act, legislation to stabilize the home insurance market by creating a federal catastrophic reinsurance program. This bill will help keep insurance premiums affordable and provide…
As Texas floods capture attention, experts urge Californians to reconsider flood insurance
As Texas floods capture attention, experts urge Californians to reconsider flood insurance

While Californians are typically more concerned about wildfires than flooding, many are watching the devastation in Texas unfold. It’s estimated that just 2% of households statewide carry a flood insurance policy. Amy Bach, the executive director of United Policyholders, joined us on ‘The Nine,’ who…
Who should consider getting flood insurance? These days, almost everyone
Who should consider getting flood insurance? These days, almost everyone

With the hurricane season starting in parts of the country, this may be good time to consider buying flood insurance for your home — even if you don’t live in a hurricane-prone area. Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in May that…
Who Should Consider Getting Flood Insurance? These Days, Almost Everyone.
Who Should Consider Getting Flood Insurance? These Days, Almost Everyone.

With the Atlantic hurricane season about to start, this may be good time to consider buying flood insurance for your home — even if you don’t live in a hurricane-prone area. Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said this month that they were…
Flood insurance in California: Here’s how to sign up
Flood insurance in California: Here’s how to sign up

California is once again being drenched by an atmospheric river-driven storm — but by the time a storm is in the forecast, it’s most often too late for homeowners to buy flood insurance. But it’s not too late to protect against future storms. Just 185,000…
Things are changing fast in the home insurance market
Things are changing fast in the home insurance market

In the weeks after Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Southeast, the price to rebuild has become a contentious topic in the home insurance market. For years, home insurers have identified climate change as a threat, cut coverage and increased premiums for properties in disaster-prone…
After hurricanes, the business of rebuilding lives means navigating the insurance claims process
After hurricanes, the business of rebuilding lives means navigating the insurance claims process

Now that the threat of Hurricanes Helene and Milton has receded, millions of homeowners and business-owners across Florida and the Southeastern U.S. are faced with traversing the often long and laborious process of using insurance to rebuild their lives. Immediately after disasters like these, property…
Navigating Insurance Claims After Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Navigating Insurance Claims After Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Insurance Claims After Hurricanes Helene and Milton: Quick Looks Understanding policies: Know your coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles to determine if filing a claim is worthwhile. Documentation is key: Keep detailed records of damages, expenses, and interactions with adjusters to support your claim. Seek professional…
Homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene face the grim task of rebuilding without flood insurance
Homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene face the grim task of rebuilding without flood insurance

The Category 4 storm that first struck Florida’s Gulf Cost on September 26 has dumped trillions of gallons of water across several states, leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction that spans hundreds of miles inland A week after Hurricane Helene overwhelmed the Southeastern U.S., homeowners…
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA

If your home was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, the most daunting challenge may still be ahead: Getting your insurance company, or the federal government, to give you the money you’re entitled to receive. That process can be infuriating and baffling, and it comes…
Homeowners face threats to their property even after Hurricane Helene — how this disaster could cause insurance crisis for millions
Homeowners face threats to their property even after Hurricane Helene — how this disaster could cause insurance crisis for millions

“It’s a huge mess for everyone.” Even after it has subsided, Hurricane Helene continues to devastate homeowners throughout the Southeastern U.S. Beyond the billions of dollars in property damage and economic output, the record-breaking storm has further destabilized the insurance market. What’s happening? As The…
Hurricane Helene brought major damage, spotlighting lack of flood insurance
Hurricane Helene brought major damage, spotlighting lack of flood insurance

Kayla Ward was drinking coffee on her porch Friday afternoon when she noticed water from the nearby Nolichucky River rising fast. After nearly a year in the house in the Appalachian Mountains, Ward never thought to worry about flooding. But she and her husband had…
Tips for Consumers to Get Fair Insurance Treatment After Hurricane Helene
Tips for Consumers to Get Fair Insurance Treatment After Hurricane Helene

Insurance Regulators Must Make Sure Consumers Are Fairly Treated, Claims Are Paid Promptly and In Full Washington, D.C. — Today the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and United Policyholders shared resources and tips to help consumers get their wind and flood insurance claims paid quickly,…