• 

  News and Publications

  • Media Room
  • News: Federal
  • News: State
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions

• 

  Seminars and Services

  • Convention
  • Event Calendar
  • Services

• 

  Government Affairs

  • Advocacy
  • Compliance
  • Issue Resources
  • Legislative Reports
  • Public Policy
  • Political Action

• 

  About NAMIC

  • Membership
  • History
  • Member Directory
  • Employment
  • Affiliates
  • Contact

Read	E-mail Print

NAMIC Offers Guidance, Resources as Latest Storm Approaches

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 11, 2008) - With Hurricane Ike a likely threat to coastal areas along the Gulf Coast this weekend, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) urges homeowners to be prepared. Forecasters today said the storm is headed for landfall somewhere along the Texas coast late Friday or early Saturday. Some forecasts said it could strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of at least 131 mph over the Gulf of Mexico, and emergency officials warned it could drive a storm surge as high as 18 feet.

"Homeowners need to make sure they take all necessary precautions to protect themselves, their families, and their properties - should the storm make landfall," said Chuck Chamness, NAMIC's president/CEO. "The insurance industry is ready to assess losses and pay claims as quickly as possible to help residents recover from any damage."

NAMIC's Hurricane Resource Center, provides information to help homeowners prepare for and recover from a hurricane. "With its tips and resources, links to important government sites, and policy papers on issues relevant to severe storms, this valuable site is a great starting point for consumers to begin their hurricane preparations," Chamness said.

To make recovery efforts faster and easier, NAMIC offers the following hurricane preparation tips:

• Keep the name, address, and telephone number of your insurer and agent with you.
• Put your insurance policies in a safe, waterproof, easy-to-find location.
• Take an inventory of your household items - photograph or videotape them. Keep this with your insurance policies.
• Keep all receipts for any repairs so your insurance company can reimburse you.

To keep your family and property safe, NAMIC suggests the following:

• Cover all windows and glass doors with approved hurricane shutters or plywood.
• Move vehicles inside garages.
• Put all outdoor furniture, grills, toys, and other items indoors, as anything can become a deadly projectile in a hurricane-force wind.
• Clean out gutters.
• Fill your vehicles with gas, as extended power outages could affect supplies.
• Have an ample supply of bottled water.
• Fill bathtubs with water to use for flushing toilets.
• Make bags of ice to keep food cold in coolers.
• Make sure portable drills are fully charged.
• Stock up on batteries.
• Have flashlights available throughout the home.
• Fill all prescriptions needed for up to a month.

For further information, contact
Nancy Grover
Director - Media Relations
(202) 628-1558 Tel
(202) 628-1601 Fax
ngrover@namic.org