News Release

New Jersey Department of
Banking and Insurance

Commissioner Tom Considine

For Immediate Release:
August 26, 2011

For Further Information:
Ed Rogan or Marshall McKnight (609) 292-5064

TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Commissioner Tom Considine today announced the Department has issued a bulletin to property insurance carriers alerting them to activate their Disaster Response Preparation Plans in advance of Hurricane Irene. The plans include emergency personnel availability to accept claims filings, preparation for increased customer inquiries and securing consumer data.

“We are asking the state’s insurance carriers to activate these plans to make sure they are ready to handle any increase in claims or consumer questions that result from Hurricane Irene and that they stand ready to assist consumers in any way possible during this difficult time,” said Considine.

Commissioner Considine also alerted insurers that depending on the severity of the storm, the Department may take extraordinary measures such as requiring that insurers suspend the cancellation or non-renewal of policies for reasons related to the disaster and require that insurers use an expedited and simplified claims process.

Property insurers with more than $20 million of net direct written premium in force must provide the Department with a brief description of their activated emergency plans. The Department may ask for additional information following analysis of Irene’s storm track and subsequent damage reports.

For the full text of the bulletin, go to: www.state.nj.us/dobi/bulletins/blt11_13.pdf.