Hurricane Maria's devastation on St. Croix. Photo Credit: IRENE ALI PHOTOGRAPHY.
A virtual forum being hosted Wednesday by the Virgin Islands Insurance Association (VIIA) will offer residents the chance to plan early and be prepared for hurricane season, according to a release issued Tuesday.
Residents are invited to tune in on Facebook Live from 4-5 p.m. here, or on the Government Access Channel 27 with special guest Gwendolyn Hall Brady, director of the Division of Banking, Insurance and Financial Regulation under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
“It is important for residents not to wait until after they have a loss to check their insurance policies or be prepared,” VIIA President Sandra Harty-Gutierrez shared. “Reviewing steps, policies and local guidelines, along with ensuring you have the right coverage now, is critical. Many lessons were learned in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria that still need to be shared. Tune in to ask questions and stay informed. We look forward to supporting the ongoing efforts of Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach Esq., who is also the commissioner of Insurance, in providing essential information to our residents and, in case of disaster, our members will work diligently to bring relief to the insured.”
VIIA’s checklist for preparedness offers the following essential tips:
- Immediately review all insurance policies to confirm that home, business, property and automobile insurance provides adequate coverage for your needs, and take pictures of your home, business and property before and immediately after a disaster
- If you desire flood insurance, be aware that it is a separate policy from your homeowner’s insurance and is available even if you are not in a flood zone
- Keep a list of your insurer(s) and place all important documents (policies, passports, birth certificates, legal documents, etc.) in a safe, waterproof location that you can quickly get to if needed
- Stay tuned for all government issued emergency information and alerts using battery operated radios and mobile devices.?
- Visit https://www.viinsurance.org for more information from VI Insurance Association member agencies on how to insure your home, business or property. Checklists, tips and tools are also available.
The Virgin Islands Insurance Association describes itself as a "unified group of resident property and casualty insurance agencies, brokerages, domestic insurers and independent adjusting firms which aim to represent the local insurance business community by lobbying for appropriate legislation, stimulating public awareness and in further educating its members and the public of the benefits that may be derived from insurance."
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