The Great Flood of 2016 Disaster Relief

We continue to assist members in the aftermath of the flooding in Louisiana. Please note that we still have some cleaning and office supplies available, so if you're still in need please contact us at the PIA office so we can make arrangements to get these to you. We provide you with a couple of other reminders below:

Communications Central

Disaster Relief Center — This resource that can be found on the front page of our website — it provides many links that may be helpful to you during this time. If you're looking for something, check here for it. Also, if we're missing anything that should be included here, please pass that on so we can make sure to get it posted.

We also encourage you to use our Agency/Company Locator so others can locate and contact you as well. We're advertising this on Facebook, so it's possible that if your insured is looking for you they may stumble upon this site. We encourage all our members to share this information as well, so we can get the message out.

Social Media — Be sure to "like" us — "Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana" — on Facebook. We are posting communications that are helpful to your insureds that you can easily "like" and "share" to help spread the word. #pialastrong.

NFIP Deadline Extended for Louisiana

Virtual Exhibit Hall

When disasters strike, PIA members are there to help, providing assistance.

As a result of the catastrophic flooding in Louisiana, the PIA Disaster Relief Fund has been reactivated. The PIA Insurance Foundation is providing disaster assistance grants to Main Street business owners who were affected by the August 11, 2016 storm and flooding events in Louisiana.

The PIA Disaster Relief Fund is soliciting charitable donations and providing relief grants to Main Street businesses that may be facing gaps in the insurance coverages or other assistance available to them. Funds are available in areas of Louisiana covered by Federal or state declarations of disaster related to these flood events.

"PIA has a long history of providing charitable disaster aid to Main Street business owners when extraordinary events overtake the individual operations' ability to respond on their own," said PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Mike Becker. "When disaster strikes, the PIA Insurance Foundation steps up to help, by soliciting funds and accepting grant applications."

Details regarding the PIA Disaster Relief Fund including criteria are available online.

I want to donate.                       I wish to apply for a relief grant.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is advising Louisiana home and business owners of insurance considerations to keep in mind as they work through the recovery process. This comes as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders a 60-day extension to file Proofs of Loss for claims resulting from the August flooding.

"For NFIP policyholders, there are deadlines to keep in mind as well as changes in living situations that may necessitate adjustments to insurance coverage. For those not directly impacted by the flooding, I encourage them to review the coverages they have in place to ensure their property and contents are adequately protected," said Commissioner Donelon. "As we work through the next stages of recovery there are certain insurance matters to keep in mind that can help you avoid further hurdles in the rebuilding process."

NFIP policyholders filing claims must submit a Proof of Loss. The Proof of Loss is a sworn statement of the amount a policyholder is claiming including necessary supporting documentation. FEMA recently announced a 60-day extension for NFIP policyholders to submit the required documentation giving them 120 days from the date of the flood event to submit their Proof of Loss. Similar extensions were granted after the major flooding in Louisiana in March 2016 and in the northwest and central regions of the state in May 2015.

Filing the Proof of Loss is necessary even after filing a claim for your flood damage. This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the NFIP can make payment. If you need to file a claim as a result of the recent flooding, contact your agent or call the NFIP at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).



More...

PIA Statement on Financial CHOICE Act (H.R. 5983)