Florida Carriers Set Up Hurricane Web Site

In part as an industry response to legislation passed this session mandating that insurers give consumers more information regarding insurance policies to help Florida residents better prepare for hurricanes, the Florida Insurance Council announced a Hurricane Central Web site (www.flains.org).

The site is being launched on the eve of the 2005 hurricane season. Following Florida's 2004 hurricane season, the Florida Insurance Council's Web site witnessed a 335 percent increase in Web site traffic, as Florida residents, business owners and media sought vital information about the storms as well as information to assist with the aftermath of each storm, notes Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council.

"Our member companies are currently in the process of re-writing policies that will give greater detail and better explain the policy and its coverages for their customers," said Miller. "This site is an extension of the commitment from our member companies to better serve Florida consumers," he added.

Information for the FIC Web site will be gleaned from a variety of sources, including the Insurance Information Institute, The Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Florida Department of Financial Services, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation--the state-run insurer, The Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Red Cross, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes and the Institute for Business & Home Safety among others. The Hurricane Web site can be found at: www.flains.org.

Source: The Florida Insurance Council