As we move into the 2006
Hurricane Season, I wanted to provide you with some helpful tips on what you
can do to prepare.I also wanted to take
this opportunity to let you know what I am doing to help fight against the
rising homeowners’ insurance premiums.
June 2005 was the most active
month on record, with four named storms – Arlene, Bret, Cindy, and Dennis –
forming by July 5.We must learn from
last year’s devastating and destructive season and prepare for any storms that
may head our way before the summer’s end.
You can take several steps to
protect your home and family from hurricane damage.Placing storm shutters over windows or
installing hurricane straps on roofs is effective at reducing damage to your
home.The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) also recommends such steps as planning an evacuation route,
clearing your yard of any loose objects, and storing bottled water.It also pays to gas up your automobile and
get cash from the bank before a hurricane hits.
You should make sure you are
financially prepared for hurricanes.For
starters, conduct a household inventory of your possessions.A video recording is always a good idea.This will be invaluable in helping you prove
the value of your property if it is damaged in a hurricane.Make sure you keep two copies of your
financial records and that they are stored in separate locations.
Taking the time to protect
your home can be invaluable if homeowners’ insurance is unaffordable or
unavailable for you.As I homeowner
myself, I recognize the frustration you feel every time you receive your
statement.For this reason, I have
introduced H.R. 4366, the Homeowners’
Insurance Protection Act.This bill
would create a federal catastrophe fund, which would provide insurance
assistance to states that have created their own state catastrophe funds like Florida has.This assistance will provide the safety net
to insurers so that they continue to write policies in Florida and will help reduce costs to
homeowners.I look forward to working
with my colleagues for swift passage of this important piece of
legislation.
I encourage you periodically
to access FEMA’s Web site for the most updated information and weather alerts
at www.fema.gov.Additionally, feel free to contact my office
with questions or concerns.I will
continue to work with Florida
officials, utility companies, and FEMA throughout this hurricane season to
ensure our communities are taken care of when we face these storms in the
future.