U.S. Legal Services Operation Status Is Normal
California 2025 Wildfire Notices
As anticipated, California has begun its notification of disaster Moratoriums, via Bulletin 2025-01. It is requiring the cease of cancellations and non-renewals of Residential Property for a period outlined in the bulletin. In addition, Commissioner Lara is REQUESTING that insurers also “stop pending non-renewals “includes non-renewals issued up to 90 days prior to January 7 but taking effect after the start of the wildfires. This pause on non-renewing and cancelling policies would last six months as impacted communities begin the recovery process.” The ‘ask,’ being done via press release, also appears to expand the risk types to include: residential property, commercial property, personal property, and the residual market. What is mandated is in the Bulletin.
Bulletin 2025-01
Effective: Jan 7, 2025 (state has made conditions of the moratorium retroactive to the start of the fires. Therefore, cancellations and non-renewals issued the date of the fire or effective the date of the fire must be rescinded.)
Duration: 1 Year.
Coverages affected: Residential Property insurance
From APCIA
Bulletin 2025-1, issued Jan. 9, 2025, is directed to all admitted and non-admitted insurers writing residential property insurance in California. Bulletin 2025-1 provides that no admitted or non-admitted insurer may issue a notice of cancellation or non-renewal due to wildfire risk for any policy of residential property insurance, including all homeowners’, condo unit owners’, mobile homeowners’, or residential renters’ insurance policies, that are located in a ZIP Code identified by Bulletin 2025-1 or any subsequent bulletin.
Areas affected:
- Palisades Fire: 90049, 90265, 90272, 90290, 90402, 91301, 91302, 91320, 91356, 91361, 91364, 91436
- Eaton Fire: 91001, 91006, 91007, 91011, 91016, 91020, 91024, 91042, 91101, 91103, 91104, 91106, 91107, 91108, 91206, 91208, 91214, 91706, 91731, 91732, 91775, 91780, 93563.
- AND any property “adjacent to the fire perimeter.”
This moratorium does not prohibit a pause in issuing new business.
2024 Hurricane Notices
State Executive Orders Issued Regarding Hurricane Helene
September 30, 2024: EO 400385-24 issued by Office of Insurance Regulation to protect policyholders impacted by Hurricane Helene. The order applies to all insurers in the state and policyholders in Alachua, Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Franklin, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla counties. Floridians seeking assistance with insurance related questions should contact the Department of Financial Services Consumer Services either by visiting their website, or by contacting the DFS Consumer Services Assistance Line 1-877-693-5236. The line is open Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Update: North Carolina is amended as follows: FEMA subsequently updated its disaster declaration to add the following counties: Cabarrus, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Iredell, Lee, Mecklenburg, Nash, Rowan, Stanley, Surry, Swain, Union and Yadkin.
October 1, 2024: “October 1, 2024, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved the North Carolina State Bar’s temporary rule amendment allowing lawyers not licensed in North Carolina to immediately begin providing pro bono legal services to indigent victims of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene.” Click here to learn more: https://www.ncbar.gov/news-publications/news-notices/2024/10/supreme-court-allowing-non-nc-lawyers-to-provide-pro-bono-legal-services-to-helene-victims/?spredfast-trk-id=sf203135460
September 30, 2024: The North Carolina Department of Insurance is issued Bulletin Number 24-B-13, which announces in response to Tropical Storm Helene the activation of disaster-related automatic stay of proof of loss requirements, and premium and debt deferrals for policyholders residing in: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey counties and to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.
Update: The Presidential Disaster Declaration implemented to help residents impacted by the storm in Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Chesterfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Oconee, Newberry, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties. The request also includes assistance for state and local government agencies, in addition to eligible non-profit organizations in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chester, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Lancaster, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties.
September 25, 2024: The Governor declared a state of emergency due to Tropical Storm Helene on September 25, 2024. Tropical Storm Helene has caused damage across many counties in South Carolina and substantially impacted some South Carolina insureds. The State of South Carolina is in the process of assisting South Carolinians directly impacted by Tropical Storm Helene with the recovery from this disaster and other emergency conditions.
Update: Executive Order is in effect until 11:59 PM Central Time on December 25, 2024.
September 27, 2024: Executive Order No. 105 – An order to provide relief to victims of severe weather and flooding in Tennessee. The order requests that insurance companies make reasonable efforts to assist policyholders who have experienced losses due to the severe weather in Tennessee.