BIG “I” KATRINA RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY
National and state associations work to help those affected
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 21, 2005—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana, the Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi, and the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents have moved quickly to spearhead relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, arranging funds, supplies and resources to those in need.
“Immediately following the Katrina catastrophe, the Big ‘I’ state and national associations moved rapidly to assist independent agents, brokers, their families and their customers in unprecedented ways,” says IIABA CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt. “We immediately established the Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund, which has received incredible support from Big “I” members around the country as well as our company partners. A number of companies and Big “I” state associations have donated significant sums to help those affected by this disaster. The response has been overwhelming.”
Rusbuldt announced that IIABA’s National Board voted last week to donate $100,000 to the Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund.
Among the other contributions to the fund: Safeco donated $25,000; OneBeacon Insurance donated $25,000; the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents donated $20,000; and Encompass donated $10,000 to the Katrina Relief fund at the Big “I” Convention. Even Big “I” member brokers from Japan donated to the fund at the National Convention in New York.
“There is no more important cause for our national and state associations than helping out our fellow agents, brokers, their employees, and their families in this time of great need,” pledged Rusbuldt. “Anything we can do, we will do.”
Additionally, the Big “I” sent hundreds of catastrophe packs to the Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi state associations. Those catastrophe packs include items for agents to use in the field: windbreakers, ponchos, flashlights, hard hats, clipboards, polo shirts, t-shirts, duffle bags, and much more.
IIABA’s Virtual University has provided a free Hurricane Katrina resource page, complete with frequently asked questions, satellite and aerial imagery, links to health and safety pages, flood and mold clean up tips, survivor information, housing space, and more. Also, the Virtual University’s Ask an Expert service is providing agents and brokers across the gulf coast with answers to their specific coverage questions. (http://www.independentagent.com/VU/NonMember/DisasterResources.htm)
InsurBanc, in collaboration with the Big “I”, has put together a special loan program for qualifying agency principals affected by Hurricane Katrina. InsurBanc is offering special pricing on short-term loans for hurricane-related expenses. Rather than forcing agents to tap into personal money and credit cards, this program is helping agencies get back to work immediately. To learn more about the special loan program, contact InsurBanc at 866-467-2622 or lending@insurbanc.com.
The Big “I” Flood Program is providing continued updates and offering its resources to agents working in the affected areas, as well as to other agents handling the flood claims and inquiries. For more information, contact the Big “I” Flood Program at flood@iiaba.net.
The Big “I” Professional Liability Program provided by GE Insurance Solutions (GEIS) and underwritten by Westport Insurance Corporation suspended all cancellations and non-renewals on insurance agency professional liability policies issued after Aug. 19. The moratorium will stay in effect until Oct. 31.
The Independent Insurance Agent & Brokers of Louisiana (IIABL) and the Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi (IIAM) are working to help their agents and brokers. Both IIABL and IIAM have emergency contact information for independent agencies that have relocated due to the storm, as well as information for the customers of independent agents in the affected areas posted at www.iiabl.com and www.msagent.org.
Both state associations are working hard to help agents and brokers find office space and get loans. IIABL and IIAM have created customer call centers for agents overwhelmed with claim reports, job banks for agents and agency employees affected by the storm, listings of office space for lease or loan, and offers of partnerships with agencies in other states. Their Web sites offer consumers guidance on how to report losses and make claims, as well as links to emergency insurance rules.
The national and state Big “I” associations are working with insurance carriers and their respective departments of insurance as advocates on behalf of independent agents and brokers, dealing with such important issues as: claims administration, coverage problems, grace periods, business interruption issues, short-term financing and other financial matters.
“It has been amazing to see how Big ‘I’ members who have lost their businesses and personal homes turn around in a second to set up and help their customers. They are completely committed to their customers and doing everything they can to make them whole again. These independent agents are making tremendous personal sacrifices to serve their customers. They are unheralded heroes in many respects,” said Rusbuldt.
All donations to the Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund will assist insurance industry colleagues, including independent agents, brokers, their employees, and their families in the impacted areas. Checks should be made payable to “Big ‘I’ Katrina Relief Fund” and mailed to:
Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund
c/o InsurBanc
10 Executive Drive
Farmington, CT 06032
If you prefer to contribute via credit card, please go to the Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund site on the InsurBanc Web site at http://insurbanc.com/vsitemanager/smartforms/default.asp.
All funds contributed to the Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund are tax deductible as charitable contributions.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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