Colby Hamilton, Writer, WNYC News
Colby Hamilton is a general assignment reporter. He originally joined WNYC as a political blogger. He's a proud graduate of the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.
NY State insurance watchdog says Irene damage is covered
Thursday, September 01, 2011 - 05:54 PM
By Karen DeWitt, WXXI Capitol Bureau Chief
Courtesy of the NY State Banking Department
State Insurance superintendent Benjamin Lawsky says is office has had reports that some New Yorkers flooded during Irene are being told by their insurance companies that their flood insurance does not cover damages. He says that is absolutely incorrect.
“If you have flood insurance it applies regardless of the cause of the flooding,” said Lawsky. “This is what insurance is all about. You pay these premiums year in and year out for when a disaster like this happens.”
Lawsky won’t speculate on whether the insurance adjusters are committing fraud or simply misinformed, but he says he intends to use every power of his office to go after companies found to be deliberately misleading policy holders.
The Superintendent says New Yorkers who feel they have been wrongly denied flood insurance payments should call the Insurance Department’s disaster hotline at 1-800-339-1759.
More in:
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For show archives, please visit The Capitol Bureau's website here.
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Comments [1]
Gee, what if we had already started hydrofracking the heck out of these regions? The holding ponds lined with plastic would have all overflowed, spilling frack fluid (formaldehyde, surfactants, solvents, detergents, sand, salty radioactive stuff from underground, other carcinogens) , into the rivers and peoples' flooded houses. Do you think we should reconsider permitting the 5,000 NY wells for next year? Gov Cuomo? Do you think if you delay it a little, the gas companies will still contribute to your 2016 presidential campaign?
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