Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following statement.
Mississippi Insurance Department Ready to Assist Storm Victims
Jackson, MS – The Mississippi Insurance Department’s (MID) consumer services division is standing ready to assist victims of Saturday storms in the Pine Belt and other areas of the state with their claims. Victims are urged to document damage and file their insurance claims as quickly as possible. Anyone having problems reaching their agent or insurance company, or filing their claim should call the MID Consumer Services toll-free number at 1-800-562-2957.
“Our thoughts are with those in the hardest hit areas of the state as they begin cleanup and repairs from the storms,” Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney said.
The Commissioner, MID staff have been on the ground since early Saturday morning assessing damage. State Fire Marshals have been assisting in search and rescue and will be on duty in the area tonight to assist local authority in protecting lives and property.
“We will be setting up a mobile claims center in the area as soon as it is safe to do so,” Chaney said.
“Insurers have also been alerted to make sure displaced individuals get living expenses.”
To help Mississippians expedite filing claims, Chaney offers the following tips:
If you suffered storm damage:
• Have your insurance company’s name and policy number ready to speed up the claim process. • Keep all receipts for expenses for any damages to your home.
• Be careful before you enter any damaged property and be careful of escaping natural gas, live electrical wires and collapses.
• Take pictures of any damages before you repair both inside and outside. If possible, make temporary repairs to your property to prevent further losses.
• Hire licensed and reputable contractors for repair work. Call the Mississippi State Board of Contractors at 1-800-880-6161 or visit their website at http://www.msboc.state.ms.us to determine if a contractor is properly licensed. Chaney also warns consumers to be wary of costs that may seem exorbitant for the work performed.
“Insurance companies may not be obligated to pay the full amount on a receipt submitted for reimbursement for tree and debris removal. To make sure you get fully compensated, consider contacting your insurer ahead of time before employing someone to remove trees or debris or rebuilding,” Chaney said.
MID also offers the following tips to consider when hiring someone to help with the cleanup of your damaged property:
• When paying for tree and debris removal, you will typically be paying for hourly labor.
• Ask the contractor up front how many hours will be required and how many men he will use for the job (A generally acceptable rate for tree removal, for example, is $50 -$60 per hour. ***Note that there can be special circumstances which would make that rate higher).
• If you are being charged more, ask questions as to why the rate is higher.
• Get a written copy of the agreed upon amount before the work begins. • Always pay by check or money order and keep a receipt.
• The charges must be a reasonable amount. Again if you have questions, contact your insurance company before employing a contractor.
Additional information on storm recovery, including a link to Insurance Company 800 Claim reporting numbers can be found on the Be Prepared page of the MID website at www.mid.ms.gov
Additional tips and information will be provided via the MID’s Twitter @MSInsuranceDept and on its Facebook page.
3 comments:
Chaney is about the best this state has. Lord knows you can't depend on those jackasses as MEMA. That agency is such a dumpster fire, it needs to be knocked down and started over. CROOKS.
I DO however think the new Colonel running it is the guy to "drain the swamp" and get it out of the state of disrepair it is in.
PHEEL is responsible for it being where it is though. With Latham, Brown and Biggers being able to stay in their position(s) as long as they were there is a testimony as to how clueless deputy dog is about leadership in state agencies.
Anyone and everyone that has worked with them in long term disaster recovery work can attest how incompetent and crooked they are. There are files sitting on agents desks from the early 2000's (PRE-Katrina) that because of the reimbursement system, municipalities still cannot get fully reimbursed by the state.....which is SUPPOSED to have the money to put back in their pockets from a % reimbursement from FEMA.
Make no mistake, heads are going to roll and more and more people are going to be tossed under the bus by PHEEL and Smithson. Many folks are going to the pokey for Epps'esque schemes and kickbacks. They not only robbed Peter to pay Paul within state disasters and mitigation programs but they took $ under the table. That's a fact. Biggers, Brown and Latham....that's just the starting point.
Stay tuned and see if what this reads to you ends up being true.....FEDS are investigating.
4:12 - you are absolutely correct about Chaney; the best in the state.
While your rant about PHEEL may be correct, the one that to me has pissed in his wheaties is Dilbert. How many times did he make sure his mug was in every picture yesterday. Listening to the briefing. In the copter on his way down. Surveying the scene. And why? Only because elections are coming up. The SOS is a welcome citizens to come run a chainsaw, or haul trash. But as part of the Emergency Response, what role did he have?
Answer: None, except there would be TV cameras around. And when they weren't, his paid lackeys would be there to take pics and get them on social media immediately. After all, what's 'really' important at a time like that?
While Dilbarq may be a camera-hound, not an elected official in this country can top the number of times Phil Bryant uses the word 'I' in every damned press release. It used to be fun to count them, but now it's actually distressing.
Brings to mind the number of times the egomaniacle Obama would use the word 'I'. While Trump used the word THREE times in his inaugural speech, Obama and Bryant use it at least in every other sentence. This signals an important, yet disturbing, psychological fact. Think about it.
Post a Comment