FEMA Grants An Additional 60 Day Extension For Ike And Gustav Victims To File Flood Proofs Of Loss
As I mentioned in yesterday’s afternoon blog, FEMA issued a signed memorandum authorizing an additional 60 day extension for Ike and Gustav victims to submit a proof of loss. Now a policyholder has a total of 330 days from the date the damage was incurred to file. The memorandum notes that FEMA will be closely monitoring the extension to determine whether additional extensions are warranted. This 60 day reprieve may be your last chance to file a proof of loss and recover the insurance proceeds you are owed. Failing to timely and properly file a flood proof of loss is a bar to recovery of the claim.
To calculate your proof of loss filing deadline, count 330 days from your date of loss. For example:
- A September 11, 2008, Ike-related loss must have a proof of loss submitted by August 7, 2009.
- An August 28, 2008, Gustav-related loss must have a proof of loss submitted by July 23, 2009.
Policyholders should also keep in mind that:
- Federal flood proofs of loss must be delivered, not mailed (i.e., get it received and in the hands of the company listed on the policy by the deadline. Do not just send it to the adjuster on the deadline day); and
- The proof of loss should be submitted on the standard form utilized by FEMA, and it must be completely filled out.
You can read the June 3, 2009, extension letter here.
Thanks for the post and thanks for all you do with this blog.
I'm new to it but I'll be back. You write very well and bring clarity to what isn't always clear.
David,
Thank you, but I cannot take complete credit for everything I write in its final form. Most of what I write gets a review by our firm's Knowledge Manager, Ruck Deminico.
Ruck takes my Choctaw and changes it into English.
Ruck is a lawyer and has a Library Degree as well. In the old days, he would be known as the firm's law librarian. With computers, there is a much smaller physical library and a lot of extraordinary information kept in digital format.
Most firms that do policyholder work do not invest in a full time lawyer that researches facts and organizes a firm's knowledge regardng opponent insurance companies, adjusters, and their hired experts. We keep and obtain old depositions, pleadings, books, public records, advertisements, and just about anything we can obtain to help us win cases for our clients. My impression is that Ruck helps us do a different and better legal job.
Ruck is very important to our success. It does not come by accident.
If someone got a Gustav-related loss on August 28, 2008, it would be a psychic loss, since Gustav happened on Sept. 1st.
Nancy,
I think you are right. You raise a very valid point, and I will ask somebody at National Flood about the dates.
Only the Florida Keys could have had a flood from Gustav by August 28, 2008--and that would have been a very extended flood because it appears Gustav was just leaving Cuba at that time. And, the extension for Gustav does not apply to Florida losses.
The problem is the letter says what it says.
Don't shoot the messenger.