Hurricane Damage Case Study

When Hurricane Charley tore through Arcadia in 2004, my home AND my historic office building, "The Depot", were all but destroyed. The insurance company started talking about exclusions, limitations, and huge deductibles, and I thought they were speaking some foreign language designed to keep me in the dark. I needed serious help fast. Fortunately, I had several friends who recommended I call Steve Fredrick at Preferred Claims Adjusters. He understood that foreign language, and he took over all the hard work of assessing the damage, working with my contractor, and convincing my insurance company to pay me everything they should, including my lengthy loss of income claim. Don't go it alone. Do yourself and your business a huge favor - Call the best. Call Preferred Claims Adjusters.

Chris Stevenson

Hurricane Damage Case Study

Chris Stevenson

SBA has approved $6 billion in loans to hurricane victims

SBA has approved $6 billion in loans to hurricane victims (Memphis Business Journal)
The U.S. Small Business Administration has award loans to businesses and homeowners in record numbers following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier)
Numerous Louisiana families and at least one from Gulfport, Miss., have taken refuge in Benton in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina.

My Story Volunteerism in America: (CentralOhio.com) Editor's Note: Media report

My Story Volunteerism in America: (CentralOhio.com)
Editor's Note: Media report after media report detailed the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 and the scenes of destruction and destitute people drove hundreds of thousands of people to respond through donations of money, goods and time.

Hurricane mediation program underway in SWLA (KPLC) Serious discussions worth

Hurricane mediation program underway in SWLA (KPLC)
Serious discussions worth thousands of dollars are going on behind closed doors in the Calcasieu Courthouse. Mediators are now trying to settle disputes between property owners and insurance companies that don't see eye to eye on reimbursements for damage following Hurricane Rita.

It's the End of Doral as They've Known It (New York Times)
Doral will be home to a World Golf Championship next year, a limited field for only the top 50 in the world ranking and leading money-winners from six tours around the world.

Florida's 'affordable' homes are scarce (Tallahassee Democrat) My cousin in

Florida's 'affordable' homes are scarce (Tallahassee Democrat)
My cousin in Queens lives in a modest middle-class neighborhood with her husband and their three sons. She's a hospital nurse. Her husband is a veteran prosecutor.

Hurricanes Didn't Damage Florida Tourism (AP via Yahoo! News) Four

Hurricanes Didn't Damage Florida Tourism (AP via Yahoo! News)
Four hurricanes in each of the last two years haven't dampened Florida's allure, tourism officials said as they announced the state set yet another record for visitors in 2005.

Experts predict active hurricane season this year (3/8) (Lake Charles

Experts predict active hurricane season this year (3/8) (Lake Charles American Press)
Hurricane season begins in less than three months, and early forecasts indicate it will be more of the same maybe much more, Louisiana State University climatologist Jay Grymes said.

Notes: Katrina damage forces course shift in New Orleans (USA Today)
Because Hurricane Katrina inflicted heavy damage to the TPC of Louisiana in August, this year's Zurich Classic will be played at the English Turn Golf & Country Club. The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout hosted the tournament from 1989-2004 until it moved last year.

Federal Charter of Cruise Ships to House Storm Evacuees Called

Federal Charter of Cruise Ships to House Storm Evacuees Called Reasonable (RedNova)
By Tom Stieghorst, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Mar. 7--Chartering Carnival Cruise Lines ships for $192 million to house Hurricane Katrina victims in the Gulf Coast area was reasonable even if the ships were under-used, according to a review released Monday.

Hotel reaches deal with attorney general on Wilma complaints (Bonita

Hotel reaches deal with attorney general on Wilma complaints (Bonita Daily News)
A Lee County hotel that became the first company sued for Hurricane Wilma-related price gouging has settled with the Florida Attorney General's Office, agreeing to pay $10,000 to the state and to refund $6,000 to customers.

Homeowners find innovative ways to face upcoming hurricane season (Sun-Sentinel)

Homeowners find innovative ways to face upcoming hurricane season (Sun-Sentinel)
After two brutal hurricane seasons -- and no relief in sight this decade -- homeowners faced with fixing up are at least finding a range of new building materials.

Florida growers play waiting game with lawmakers (Fort Wayne Journal

Florida growers play waiting game with lawmakers (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
LAKE WALES, Fla. Ellis Hunt s family has made a living growing citrus since the 1920s, when his grandfather went into the business with two brothers. The industry is all they know.

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier) Numerous Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier)
Numerous Louisiana families and at least one from Gulfport, Miss., have taken refuge in Benton in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina.

Homeowners find innovative ways to face upcoming hurricane season (Sun-Sentinel)
After two brutal hurricane seasons -- and no relief in sight this decade -- homeowners faced with fixing up are at least finding a range of new building materials.

Flagler County, Florida Building Codes may not be Stringent Enough

Flagler County, Florida Building Codes may not be Stringent Enough to Protect Residents from a Major Hurricane; Palm (PR Web)
The hurricane seasons of 2004-05 were incredibly active and caused a great deal of property damage to many coastal communities. Forecasters are predicting another active season in 2006. Current building codes in Palm Coast only require that a home be built to withstand 110 mph winds for inland homes and 120 mph winds for coastal homes. This industry standard may not be enough to protect Palm

Electric System Strengthening Initiatives Approved (ElectricNet)
The impending 2006 hurricane season will find Florida better prepared to deal with issues affecting electric transmission and distribution based on actions outlined by the Florida Public Service Commission Monday...

Family had just finished repairs from hurricane when home burns

Family had just finished repairs from hurricane when home burns (The Herald-Tribune)
The Singermans had just finished repairing Hurricane Charley's damage when a fire broke out.

Flagler County, Florida Building Codes may not be Stringent Enough to Protect Residents from a Major Hurricane; Palm (PR Web)
The hurricane seasons of 2004-05 were incredibly active and caused a great deal of property damage to many coastal communities. Forecasters are predicting another active season in 2006. Current building codes in Palm Coast only require that a home be built to withstand 110 mph winds for inland homes and 120 mph winds for coastal homes. This industry standard may not be enough to protect Palm

UltraStrip to be Featured on ABC Affiliate Channel 25 Story

UltraStrip to be Featured on ABC Affiliate Channel 25 Story About Hurricane Katrina and Waveland, Mississippi (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
UltraStrip Systems, Inc. , the Stuart, Florida-based homeland security technology company, announced that they will be featured on WPBF News 25, the local West Palm Beach, Florida ABC affiliate.

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier)
Numerous Louisiana families and at least one from Gulfport, Miss., have taken refuge in Benton in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina.

Florida regulators study ways to strengthen Fla.'s electrical system (Miami

Florida regulators study ways to strengthen Fla.'s electrical system (Miami Herald)
Florida regulators gave the green light Monday to finding ways to harden the state's electric grid to better withstand hurricanes, but the process of workshops and hearings will mean no major changes before this year's hurricane season.

Hurricanes vs. Homes: Should Building on U.S. Coasts Be Stopped? (National Geographic)
In the wake of last year's unprecedented hurricane damage, questions are being raised about whether rebuilding should be allowed on the U.S.'s hurricane-vulnerable coastlines.

Florida regulators study ways to strengthen Fla.'s electrical system (Miami

Florida regulators study ways to strengthen Fla.'s electrical system (Miami Herald)
Florida regulators gave the green light Monday to finding ways to harden the state's electric grid to better withstand hurricanes, but the process of workshops and hearings will mean no major changes before this year's hurricane season.

Florida announces record tourism for 2005 (Miami Herald)
Tourism numbers released Monday showed continue strength if South Florida's vacation market, though there are signs 2006 won't match last year's pace.

Car renters are now liable for storm damage (Sun-Sentinel) Q:

Car renters are now liable for storm damage (Sun-Sentinel)
Q: I was told that rental car companies are changing their agreements, which would make the renters more responsible for damage. Is this true and, if so, what in the agreement is being changed?

Better electric grid is in the works (Miami Herald) The

Ailing farmers' market gets $5 million from FEMA (The Palm

Ailing farmers' market gets $5 million from FEMA (The Palm Beach Post)
The Fort Pierce State Farmers' Market looks like Hurricane Frances hit yesterday instead of 17 months ago.

Car renters are now liable for storm damage (Sun-Sentinel)
Q: I was told that rental car companies are changing their agreements, which would make the renters more responsible for damage. Is this true and, if so, what in the agreement is being changed?

Better electric grid is in the works (Miami Herald) The

Better electric grid is in the works (Miami Herald)
The state regulators' staff on Tuesday released its recommendations for hardening Florida's electrical system -- with the possibility of creating one able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane.

Voted #1 Florida Press 2004 FIRST PLACE Best Web Site Florida Keys Keynoter (Keynoter.com)
Nearly four months after Hurricane Wilma, Middle Keys residents displaced by the worst Keys storm in decades may finally be able to move into temporary trailers now being installed at the City of Marathon Marina.

Volunteers with Catholic Charities' Operation Helping Hands Clean Up Homes

Volunteers with Catholic Charities' Operation Helping Hands Clean Up Homes of Hurricane Victims in New Orleans (U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! News)
Volunteers organized by Catholic Charities of New Orleans' community outreach program, Operation Helping Hands, are about to gut their 125th home in flood-ravaged New Orleans with the Ash Wednesday clean-up of the New Orleans home of 85 year-old Hurricane Katrina victim, Clothilde Mack.

Voted #1 Florida Press 2004 FIRST PLACE Best Web Site

Voted #1 Florida Press 2004 FIRST PLACE Best Web Site Florida Keys Keynoter (Keynoter.com)
Nearly four months after Hurricane Wilma, Middle Keys residents displaced by the worst Keys storm in decades may finally be able to move into temporary trailers now being installed at the City of Marathon Marina.

Hurricane Rita's emotional toll damage that's harder to measure (2/19) (Lake Charles American Press)
How people have reacted, and will react, to hurricane-related crises has much to do with personality strengths, preparation levels and social support, according to a local psychologist.

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier) Numerous Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier)
Numerous Louisiana families and at least one from Gulfport, Miss., have taken refuge in Benton in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina.

Florida Citrus Growers in Limbo (AP via Yahoo! News)
Ellis Hunt's family has made a living growing citrus since the 1920s, when his grandfather went into the business with two brothers. The industry is all they know.

Hurricane Rita's emotional toll damage that's harder to measure (2/19)

Hurricane Rita's emotional toll damage that's harder to measure (2/19) (Lake Charles American Press)
How people have reacted, and will react, to hurricane-related crises has much to do with personality strengths, preparation levels and social support, according to a local psychologist.

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier) Numerous Louisiana

Politicians have paved way for hurricane tax (Orlando Sentinel) If

Politicians have paved way for hurricane tax (Orlando Sentinel)
If your property-insurance premium is $1,500 a year, you will be taxed about $350 to pay for hurricane damage to private property on the coast. It will be added as an assessment to your premium payments.

Auto shops still feel Wilma's wrath (Orlando Sentinel) Backlogs have

Auto shops still feel Wilma's wrath (Orlando Sentinel)
Backlogs have forced some drivers to wait for months before their vehicles get fixed. It took four hours to remove the huge tree that fell on Cheri Asher's silver Toyota RAV4 when Hurricane Wilma plowed through South Florida last year.

Insurance Problems? Get Them Resolved (KPLC)
We have all heard a lot about home owners insurance over the past few months. For many, hurricane damage claims have already been settled, but not everyone is so lucky.

Fact Sheet: President Bush Requests $19.8 Billion for Hurricane Recovery

Fact Sheet: President Bush Requests $19.8 Billion for Hurricane Recovery (White House News)
Today, President Bush asked Congress for $19.8 Billion in Emergency Funding to Support Ongoing Hurricane Recovery Efforts. President Bush is committed to helping residents of the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives in the wake of the disaster, and these additional funds will support ongoing recovery efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and

Florida Health Workers told, "Prepare for pandemic." (Tampa Bay's 10)
St. Petersburg, Florida Local Health Department officials in Pinellas County, like their counterparts all over Florida are receiving a sobering reminder via satellite about the threat of a bird flu pandemic.

Politicians have paved way for hurricane tax (Orlando Sentinel) If

Construction crews find WWII-era bomb on Pensacola Beach (al.com) PENSACOLA,

Construction crews find WWII-era bomb on Pensacola Beach (al.com)
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) Construction crews using heavy machinery to repair hurricane damage at Pensacola Beach unearthed a World War Two-era flash bomb yesterday morning.

Freezing temperatures pummel vegetable farmers (Miami Herald)
Rocked by Hurricane Wilma in the fall and slammed Tuesday morning by a late-season freeze, some Florida vegetable farmers are reeling.

SBA Loan Approvals in Florida Surpass $100 Million for Hurricane

SBA Loan Approvals in Florida Surpass $100 Million for Hurricane Wilma Victims (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
More than $100 million in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance loans have been approved for over 1,560 residents and business owners in Florida who were affected by Hurricane Wilma.

BellSouth Toils to Target Post-Storm Problems (RedNova) By Kristi E.

BellSouth Toils to Target Post-Storm Problems (RedNova)
By Kristi E. Swartz, The Palm Beach Post, Fla. Feb. 12--Hurricane Wilma zapped Barbara and Gene Hodges' telephone service when the storm hit Florida on Oct. 24. The fast-moving hurricane ripped through the state in less than a day.

Hurricane bites into AutoNation profit (Market Watch)
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- AutoNation Inc. on Thursday said fourth-quarter net profit was cut in half from a year ago as Hurricane Wilma battered its Florida operations at an already-challenging time for the broader retail business of selling cars.

Expert Has 'Bad News:' Expect 2006 Hurricane Season to Repeat

Expert Has 'Bad News:' Expect 2006 Hurricane Season to Repeat 2005 (Insurance Journal)
There is no reason to expect any change in hurricane patterns in the near future, the number of hurricanes have been increasing since 1995 and will continue to do so for the next decade or two, accord

USFWS employee pitches in to help in hurricane relief (Ludington

USFWS employee pitches in to help in hurricane relief (Ludington Daily News)
Alex Gonzalez was tired of hearing government employees being run down in the media. So he volunteered to make a difference. Gonzalez was one of hundreds of government employees from across the country to volunteer for a detail in the hurricane-stricken part of the Gulf Coast.

Insurers keep eye on hurricane legal issues (Orlando Sentinel) The

Insurers keep eye on hurricane legal issues (Orlando Sentinel)
The past two hurricane seasons have battered the insurance industry in Florida and elsewhere with billions of dollars in record losses.

Expert Has 'Bad News:' Expect 2006 Hurricane Season to Repeat

Florida Orders 8-Year Power Pole Checks (Local6.com Central Florida) TALLAHASSEE,

Florida Orders 8-Year Power Pole Checks (Local6.com Central Florida)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- State utility regulators voted Tuesday to require power and phone companies to significantly step up their inspections of poles, a reaction to widespread outages in Hurricane Wilma, which broke thousands of them.

(Portable) spotlight shines on Lockhart (Sun-Sentinel)
Fort Lauderdale Missing were the eight light poles, removed after damage caused by Hurricane Wilma.

Past, Present and Future Hurricane Issues Top Feb. 8-11 Windstorm

Past, Present and Future Hurricane Issues Top Feb. 8-11 Windstorm Conference Agenda (Insurance Journal)
Past, present and future hurricane issues, how to prepare for the 2006 hurricane season and what to expect will be discussed during the Feb. 8 to 11 Seventh Annual Windstorm Insurance Conference and E

Citing hurricane risk, Allstate pulls back in New York (Crane's

Citing hurricane risk, Allstate pulls back in New York (Crane's Chicago Business)
(Reuters) - Allstate Corp. said on Monday that it wasn't renewing some of its homeowners' policies in the New York City area for fears that a major hurricane could strike in the area, leaving the insurer overexposed.

Sudden winds like a hurricane (York Daily Record) Gusts on

Sudden winds like a hurricane (York Daily Record)
Gusts on Saturday night reached 75 miles per hour. Feb 6, 2006 Off the coast of Florida, when a hurricane is brewing, the warning signs are there. Choppy seas become rougher by the minute.

N.Y. Sen. Schumer Criticizes Allstate's Coastal Area Cutback (Insurance Journal)
New York State's largest provider of homeowners insurance should reconsider its decision to stop writing new policies in the metropolitan area over concerns about hurricane damage, according to Sen.

Fla. lawmakers ponder catastrophe fund (The Palm Beach Post) Weary

Fla. lawmakers ponder catastrophe fund (The Palm Beach Post)
Weary from weathering seven hurricanes the last two years, Florida wants the rest of the nation to shoulder some of the burden of paying for the widespread damage caused by natural disasters.

Champion yacht Not Yet! evades Katrina, sails to win in

Champion yacht Not Yet! evades Katrina, sails to win in Florida (The Biloxi Sun Herald)
Hurricane Katrina devastated the South Mississippi sailing scene, literally eliminating yachts clubs from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula.

Shopping centers urged to plan ahead for damage (Miami Herald)
Shopping center owners were urged Tuesday to start their preparations now so they can reopen quickly when hurricanes will inevitably strike South Florida again.

Photography firm offers its wings (Island Packet) Hilton Head Island

Photography firm offers its wings (Island Packet)
Hilton Head Island is getting one more resource to help it assess damage and recoup after a hurricane or other major disaster -- and it's not costing the town one dime.

National Hurricane Director Max Mayfield to Speak at 2006 Windstorm

National Hurricane Director Max Mayfield to Speak at 2006 Windstorm Insurance Conference Set for February 8-11, 2006 in (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
ORLANDO, Fla.----Feb. 1, 2006--National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield and former NFL Player Danny Wuerffel will be among the keynote speakers sharing their experiences of last year's hurricane season at the Seventh Annual Windstorm Insurance Conference to be held February 8-11, 2006 at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Vehicles flooded during hurricanes now hitting Bay area car markets

Vehicles flooded during hurricanes now hitting Bay area car markets (Tampa Bay's 10)
Tampa, Florida -- Looking for another car? Then we have a warning if you're thinking about buying it used. Besides making sure it hasn t been involved in a serious accident or has a transmission that's about to go, now you have make sure it's not a victim of a hurricane.

In the Wake of Disaster, Help for Hire (New York Times)
Public adjusters are becoming increasingly prominent in hurricane-torn Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Voted #1 Florida Press 2004 FIRST PLACE Best Web Site

Voted #1 Florida Press 2004 FIRST PLACE Best Web Site Florida Keys Keynoter (Keynoter.com)
Work has started to repair hurricane damage to the dock at the most popular Florida Bay island in Everglades National Park. Park crews from the Everglades and Isle Royale (Michigan) National Park started rebuilding the dock at North Nest Key, damaged in Hurricane Wilma.

FPL to make changes to cut hurricane infrastructure damage (Gainesville Sun)
lorida Power & Light plans to replace some of its one million wooden power poles with new ones that can withstand winds up to 150 mph, do more inspections and offer to help pay for putting some lines underground as part of an effort to strengthen the company's infrastructure to better withstand hurricanes.

State officials blast federal hurricane aid 11:40 PM (Fort Worth

State officials blast federal hurricane aid 11:40 PM (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Texas leaders on Thursday accused the federal government of woefully shortchanging the state in hurricane recovery money, saying that a $74.5 million aid package announced this week will cover only a fraction of the damage to the state s storm-battered communities.

Storms altered ecosystems (Baltimore Sun) Long-term damage seen from Gulf

Storms altered ecosystems (Baltimore Sun)
Long-term damage seen from Gulf hurricanes, human pollution Last year's record hurricane season didn't just change life for humans. It changed nature, too.

REPAIR. REPLANT. REBUILD (Sun-Sentinel) In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma,

REPAIR. REPLANT. REBUILD (Sun-Sentinel)
In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has published many articles to help residents rebuild their homes, repair their roofs and replant their yards.

An 'Invasion' Hurricane Hits Burbank (Zap2It)
In the Wednesday ABC freshman drama "Invasion," the small town of Homestead, Fla., struggles to recover from a devastating hurricane while also coping with an apparent influx of strange creatures in the water and strange behavior among its citizens.

Home Depot $1M in hurricane aid to go to nonprofits

Home Depot $1M in hurricane aid to go to nonprofits (bizjournals.com via Yahoo! Finance)
The state has decided to direct The Home Depot's recent $1 million donation to the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund toward helping nonprofits recover from Hurricane Wilma.

Texans angry about amount of hurricane aid (Victoria Advocate) Housing

Texans angry about amount of hurricane aid (Victoria Advocate)
Housing and Urban Development announced late Wednesday it would divide $11.5 billion, which Congress approved in December, among five hurricane-devastated states.

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier) Numerous Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier)
Numerous Louisiana families and at least one from Gulfport, Miss., have taken refuge in Benton in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina.

Transcript of Tele-News Conference With Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner Regarding Hurricane Assistance for (USDA)
MODERATOR: Good morning from Washington. I'm Larry Quinn speaking to you from the Broadcast Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Welcome to today's news conference with Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner to discuss USDA hurricane assistance for agriculture and rural housing.

Point of Light award to disaster relief worker (Florida Baptist

Point of Light award to disaster relief worker (Florida Baptist Witness)
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE (FBW) Florida Governor Jeb Bush recognized Derreck Boring, associate pastor of Central Baptist Church in Crestview, and a Master Sergeant in the Air Force, with a Points of Light Award Jan. 11 for his role in assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Industrial concerns protesting proposed Entergy surcharge (The Daily Comet)
Industrial plants that line the Mississippi River contend that proposed power surcharges to pay for hurricane damage to Entergy Corp.'s system would enrich its shareholders at the expense of its customers.

Florida harvest could ease tomato shortage (KARE 11 Minneapolis-St. Paul)

Florida harvest could ease tomato shortage (KARE 11 Minneapolis-St. Paul)
A bountiful winter harvest should ease the nationwide tomato shortage caused by hurricanes that hit Florida last year, a top state official said

Hurricane Katrina: Louisianans take refuge locally (Benton Courier)
Numerous Louisiana families and at least one from Gulfport, Miss., have taken refuge in Benton in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina.

Fla. Official Sees Tomato Shortage Easing (AP via Yahoo! News)

Fla. Official Sees Tomato Shortage Easing (AP via Yahoo! News)
A bountiful winter harvest should ease the nationwide tomato shortage caused by hurricanes that hit Florida last year, a top state official said Monday.

Bronson: Florida tomato shortage at an end (Gainesville Sun)
tomato shortage, created by eight hurricanes the past two summers, appears to be ending. With Florida's winter harvest now in full swing, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said Monday that grocery shelves should soon be full of the state's top quality tomatoes and prices should decrease.

City Looks To Limit Coastal Housing (The Tampa Tribune) NEW

City Looks To Limit Coastal Housing (The Tampa Tribune)
NEW PORT RICHEY - After the most-destructive hurricane season in history, and with demand increasing for waterfront property, city officials are turning their attention to a long-term plan for managing growth west of U.S. 19.

FEMA extends Florida aid deadline (The Western Star) WEST PALM

FEMA extends Florida aid deadline (The Western Star)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.

Damaged Macy's to revamp (Miami Herald)
Macy's Florida said Thursday that two of its South Florida stores damaged by Hurricane Wilma will remain closed until November in order to complete major renovations.

Pole-snapping storms, such as Wilma, too much for FPL (The

Pole-snapping storms, such as Wilma, too much for FPL (The Palm Beach Post)
Storms the strength of Hurricane Wilma are too mighty for Florida Power & Light Co.'s system, a utility consultant said Friday.

Florida, (The Philadelphia Inquirer) If you think having an authentic

Florida, (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
If you think having an authentic country experience in South Florida is oxymoronic, you haven't looked around. In the shadow of Miami's urban landscape lies the tranquillity of rural countryside. Hundreds of acres of farmland occupy southernmost Miami-Dade County, and the roadsides are dotted with fresh-fruit stands that boast the pride and produce of Florida agriculture. The steady rhythm of

Top Seven Ways Insurance Companies Try to Avert Paying All or Part of Consumer Claims (PR Web via Yahoo! News)
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- It has been three months since Hurricane Wilma paralyzed South Florida and left many residents frustrated. But, now, the electricity is restored, the tree limbs are removed and there is a sense of normalcy, until the affected have to deal with folks that are insuring their homes or businesses.

Legislators launch hurricane hearing series (Sun-Sentinel) HOMESTEAd South Dade

Legislators launch hurricane hearing series (Sun-Sentinel)
HOMESTEAd South Dade resident Victoria Funes spent three days trying to get in touch with her elderly father's nursing home after Hurricane Wilma hit in late October.

Fla. braces for pines' hurricane die-off (PhysOrg)
Environmental officials in South Florida are waiting to see if native slash pines will begin dying off in a delayed reaction to Hurricane Wilma in October.

Power poles were up to par (Sun-Sentinel) Florida Power &

Power poles were up to par (Sun-Sentinel)
Florida Power & Light Co.'s utility poles were up to -- and even exceeded -- industry standards before Hurricane Wilma last October, according to an FPL consultant. But for hurricane-prone Florida, the consultant said those standards may not be high enough.

Fla. braces for pines' hurricane die-off (PhysOrg)
Environmental officials in South Florida are waiting to see if native slash pines will begin dying off in a delayed reaction to Hurricane Wilma in October.

140 Lauderhill families forced to leave condos because of Wilma

140 Lauderhill families forced to leave condos because of Wilma damage (Sun-Sentinel)
Months after Hurricane Wilma, South Florida residents continue to be displaced by the storm.

Fla. Marine Insurers Encourage Boat Owners to 'Be Prepared,' Have a Hurricane Plan (Insurance Journal)
South Florida boaters with a plan about how they will protect their vessels if a hurricane hits will receive reduced policy rates and added or increased deductibles for storm losses according to a spo

Around South Florida (Miami Herald) Man dies after being overcome

Around South Florida (Miami Herald)
Man dies after being overcome by smoke A fire at a Surfside apartment Monday took the life of a man who fought with police to reenter his burning apartment.

Fla. braces for pines' hurricane die-off (PhysOrg)
Environmental officials in South Florida are waiting to see if native slash pines will begin dying off in a delayed reaction to Hurricane Wilma in October.

FPL outlines plan for hurricane bonds (Daytona Beach News-Journal) TALLAHASSEE

FPL outlines plan for hurricane bonds (Daytona Beach News-Journal)
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Power & Light filed plans with regulators Friday to issue bonds to cover more than $1 billion to recover losses from the last two hurricane seasons and rebuild a reserve fund for future storms.

Voted #1 Florida Press 2004 FIRST PLACE Best Web Site Florida Keys Keynoter (Keynoter.com)
South Florida's commercial-fishing industry suffered an estimated loss of over $100 million in the 2005 hurricane season, say four state congressional representatives.

Explosion at Florida wastewater treatment plant kills one worker (KBCI

Explosion at Florida wastewater treatment plant kills one worker (KBCI Boise)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. One worker is dead and six injured in a blast at a Florida wastewater treatment plant. Daytona Beach officials say the sewage plant was under repair for hurricane damage.

FPL outlines plan for hurricane bonds (Daytona Beach News-Journal) TALLAHASSEE

FPL outlines plan for hurricane bonds (Daytona Beach News-Journal)
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Power & Light filed plans with regulators Friday to issue bonds to cover more than $1 billion to recover losses from the last two hurricane seasons and rebuild a reserve fund for future storms.

Study: FPL system fared as well as could be expected in Wilma (The Daily Comet)
Florida Power & Light designs and builds its distribution system to a tougher standard than most other power companies and severe damage to poles and lines in Hurricane Wilma was simply what would be expected in such a powerful storm, an outside engineering company has found.

FPL says it can't explain widespread damage to poles (Sun-Sentinel)

FPL says it can't explain widespread damage to poles (Sun-Sentinel)
Tallahassee A Florida Power & Light Co. executive told legislators Wednesday that the company is still investigating why 10,000 of its poles snapped during last year's Hurricane Wilma but promised it will strengthen its infrastructure and make it better able to stand up to storms.

Explosion at Florida wastewater treatment plant kills one worker (KBCI

Explosion at Florida wastewater treatment plant kills one worker (KBCI Boise)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. One worker is dead and six injured in a blast at a Florida wastewater treatment plant. Daytona Beach officials say the sewage plant was under repair for hurricane damage.

Senate grills FPL on hurricane response (Palm Beach Post)
TALLAHASSEE A senate panel grilled Florida Power & Light Co. over its hurricane-restoration efforts Wednesday morning, asking whether the state's largest utility had enough crews working from the start and whether it was doing anything to strengthen its power poles to withstand hurricane-force winds.

Extra hurricane repair tax money proposed for homeowner help (Houma,

Extra hurricane repair tax money proposed for homeowner help (Houma, Louisiana Newspaper - The Courier)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Democrats have joined the call to use a tax windfall from hurricane rebuilding to ease the hit to homeowners who have paid extra for their property insurance to bail out the those who can't get hurricane coverage.

FPL review of power system was overdue (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
So Florida Power & Light is finally considering improvement of its power system to resist hurricane damage. Floridians who sweltered through weeks without power the past two hurricane seasons ... can only say one thing: What took them so long?

Florida's bald eagles rebuilt nests after slew of storms (Macon

Florida's bald eagles rebuilt nests after slew of storms (Macon Telegraph)
FORT PIERCE - The bald eagle, America's symbol of strength, is proving to be a tough bird in Florida, unintimidated by two rough years of hurricanes, including the most recent, Wilma.

Important canker law being reviewed after hurricane (WINK TV Southwest

Important canker law being reviewed after hurricane (WINK TV Southwest Florida)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A state law requiring the removal of trees within 1,900 feet of one infected with citrus canker is being reviewed by the Florida Department of Agriculture in the aftermath of four damaging summer hurricanes.

Florida growers protect crops from potential freeze (Palm Beach Post)

Florida growers protect crops from potential freeze (Palm Beach Post)
ORLANDO, Fla. Florida's agriculture and nursery industries braced for a cold snap overnight Sunday after freeze warnings were issued for much of the sunshine state.

Federal agencies extend deadlines for applying for hurricane aid (Sun-Sentinel)

Federal agencies extend deadlines for applying for hurricane aid (Sun-Sentinel)
Good news for those who suffered damage during Hurricane Wilma in October and missed Thursday night's deadlines to apply for assistance.

Accidental fire destroys building already damaged by Hurricane Wilma (Sun-Sentinel)

Accidental fire destroys building already damaged by Hurricane Wilma (Sun-Sentinel)
NORTH LAUDERDALE The fire that destroyed an apartment building already made uninhabitable by Hurricane Wilma was an accident, city officials said Friday.

Federal agencies extend deadlines for applying for hurricane aid (Sun-Sentinel)
Good news for those who suffered damage during Hurricane Wilma in October and missed Thursday night's deadlines to apply for assistance.

Deadline For Disaster Aid Is Thursday (WPLG Click10.com via Yahoo!

Deadline For Disaster Aid Is Thursday (WPLG Click10.com via Yahoo! News)
The deadline is Thursday for Florida residents and business owners to apply for disaster assistance for damage incurred by Hurricane Wilma, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

Deadline for Wilma aid is Thursday (Miami Herald) The deadline

Deadline for Wilma aid is Thursday (Miami Herald)
The deadline for Florida residents and business owners who sustained damage from Hurricane Wilma to apply for disaster assistance is Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

Florida farmers reeling (Daytona Beach News-Journal)
ORLANDO -- Hurricanes made 2005 one of the worst years in recent memory for agriculture in Florida, which supplies more than half of the nation's fresh vegetables between November and February.

Deadline for Wilma aid is Thursday (Miami Herald) The deadline

Deadline for Wilma aid is Thursday (Miami Herald)
The deadline for Florida residents and business owners who sustained damage from Hurricane Wilma to apply for disaster assistance is Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

2005: Tough Year for Florida Agriculture (Los Angeles Times)
ORLANDO, Fla. Hurricanes made 2005 one of the worst years in recent memory for agriculture in Florida, which supplies more than half of the nation's fresh vegetables between November and February.

Hurricane brings out best in us (Daily News Journal) The

Hurricane brings out best in us (Daily News Journal)
The people of Rutherford County always step forward in the case of an emergency, and accommodating those displaced by Hurricane Katrina was no different.

FEMA Centers Paring Back Hours: Islamorada Site Closes but Three Remain Open (RedNova)
By Alyson Matley, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon Dec. 31--If you haven't filed for emergency aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to hurricane damage, you have until Thursday to do so.

2005: Tough Year for Florida Agriculture (Gainesville Sun) urricanes made

2005: Tough Year for Florida Agriculture (Gainesville Sun)
urricanes made 2005 one of the worst years in recent memory for agriculture in Florida, which supplies more than half of the nation's fresh vegetables between November and February.

Better 2006 expected (Florida Today) Like a powerful runner carrying

Better 2006 expected (Florida Today)
Like a powerful runner carrying too much weight, the stock market trudged through 2005 on the strength of its gross domestic product but burdened by hurricane damage and persistent energy shortages.

Hurricane Wilma school damage (Sun-Sentinel)
Hurricane Wilma school damage

Floridians Have Until Jan. 5 to Apply for Wilma Assistance

Floridians Have Until Jan. 5 to Apply for Wilma Assistance (Insurance Journal)
Less than a week remains for Florida residents and business owners who sustained damage from Hurricane Wilma to apply for disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is Jan. 5. "For individuals wh

2005 among worst years in recent memory for Florida agriculture (Gainesville Sun)
egetable pickers are harvesting only about half the volume of tomatoes and peppers that they normally would this time of year at the Six Ls farm in southwest Florida where Hurricane Wilma's destructive winds tore through fields in October.

T.S. Storm Zeta Forms in Atlantic (Tampa Bay's 10) MIAMI,

T.S. Storm Zeta Forms in Atlantic (Tampa Bay's 10)
MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Tropical Storm Zeta formed Friday in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, another installment in a record-breaking hurricane season that officially ended last month.

Hurricane Andrew sparks new codes in Florida (Hattiesburg American) After

Hurricane Andrew sparks new codes in Florida (Hattiesburg American)
After surviving a couple of decades with few serious hurricanes, Florida officials and residents thought their state could withstand a major storm. And then came Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

USDA Sets Aside $200M In Hurricane Aid To Florida Farmers

USDA Sets Aside $200M In Hurricane Aid To Florida Farmers (CattleNetwork.com)
ORLANDO , Florida (AP)--The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated at least $200 million for Florida growers and farmers who suffered losses from the 2005 hurricanes, officials said Wednesday.

Florida growers will get storm aid (Florida Today)
The federal government has earmarked more than $200 million for Florida agricultural aid as part of a 2005 disaster relief package, agriculture officials said Tuesday.

The year of unnatural disasters (AFP via Yahoo! News) In

The year of unnatural disasters (AFP via Yahoo! News)
In the space of a year, a tsunami, an earthquake, brutal storms and floods have claimed more than 300,000 lives and cost at least 100 billion dollars in damage.

Florida gets hit by another brutal hurricane season in 2005

Florida gets hit by another brutal hurricane season in 2005 (Houma, Louisiana Newspaper - The Courier)
MIAMI - After Hurricane Katrina killed more than 1,300 people on the Gulf Coast, emergency managers and forecasters thought storm-prone Florida residents would be more prepared and pay better attention to warnings and evacuation orders.

Busiest hurricane season on record voted top Florida story (Gainesville

Busiest hurricane season on record voted top Florida story (Gainesville Sun)
lorida's second straight year of getting pummeled by a string of hurricanes in the busiest Atlantic season on record was voted the top state story in 2005 by Florida newspaper editors and broadcasters in The Associated Press' annual vote.

Wilma's damage forces East Naples small appliance repair store to close (Sun Herald)
The twosome that has repaired small appliances in Naples for 26 years is faced with a repair they cannot make. After sustaining serious damage from Hurricane Wilma, P.D.'s Fixit Inc. has closed.

Hurricane researchers downgrade Katrina (Disaster News Network) BALTIMORE (December 23,

Hurricane researchers downgrade Katrina (Disaster News Network)
BALTIMORE (December 23, 2005) National Hurricane Center researchers have downgraded Hurricane Katrina to a Category 3 storm when it made landfall in Louisiana back in late August.

Busiest hurricane season on record voted top Florida story (Brandenton.com)
MIAMI - Florida's second straight year of getting pummeled by a string of hurricanes in the busiest Atlantic season on record was voted the top state story in 2005 by Florida newspaper editors and broadcasters in The Associated Press' annual vote.

Holiday spirit suffers in wake of Hurricane Wilma (Gainesville Sun)

Holiday spirit suffers in wake of Hurricane Wilma (Gainesville Sun)
fter Hurricane Wilma mangled Carla McMullen's comfortable rental home two months ago, she and her three children slept in her compact car, next to strangers in a county shelter and on the dirty floor of an acquaintance's home.

Yoon, Sipe Display Strokes of Genius (The Ledger) For most

Yoon, Sipe Display Strokes of Genius (The Ledger)
For most of the high school swimmers in Polk County and Florida, 2005 was a stopand-start season, the result of hurricane delays, damage to swimming pools and a short season of competition. For Lake Region sophomore Laura Yoon, it was a year of personal triumph and tragedy.

Customers in Florida unsold on bigger utility (Sun-Sentinel)
Lou Barry has seen his Florida Power & Light Co. bill soar because of hurricane-related surcharges and adjustments for higher fuel costs. So when parent FPL Group Inc. announced its planned $11.5 billion acquisition of Baltimore's Constellation Energy Monday, he wondered whether he's in effect paying for it.

Hurricane Wilma Damage Estimates (Sun-Sentinel) Hurricane Wilma Damage Estimates Media:

Hurricane Wilma Damage Estimates (Sun-Sentinel)
Hurricane Wilma Damage Estimates

Media: Hurricane Katrina Top Story of 2005 (Idaho Press-Tribune)
1. HURRICANE KATRINA: Days in advance, America knew it was coming. But even though Hurricane Katrina weakened slightly from its frightening Category 5 strength, its impact was stunning.

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