'Insurance village' opens for Bay Area residents impacted by Hurricane Helene
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Dozens of insurers gathered under one roof in Clearwater on Friday, as the state launched an "insurance village" to help Tampa Bay-area residents through the process of filing claims in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
More than 30 homeowners, flood and auto insurance companies were represented during the village's first day.
"In my book, it's all about speeding up the process in a fair, accurate way," said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. "Insurance is complicated. You're given a document and every word is 12 letters or 13 letters or more and you may not be sure what you're entitled to or even how to start the process. We tell people, call your agent, call your carrier, call us. But here, sometimes being face to face, it's just humanitarian."
READ: Homeowners affected by Hurricane Helene advised to file insurance claims ASAP
So far, more than 84,000 Helene-related claims have been filed statewide, including 10,000 with the state-run Citizens Property Insurance, with the majority of those coming from Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando Counties.
Help will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
Help with insurance claims is available to anyone impacted by Hurricane Helene at the Long Center in Clearwater.
The insurance village is being held at the Long Center, located at 1501 N. Belcher Rd. in Clearwater.
Help will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
What to bring to insurance village
- ID
- Insurance cards
- Photos and documentation of damage
- Any repair estimates you may have received
Policyholders are welcome, regardless of whether the claims process has already begun.
Organizers are asking that only those who need help filing claims with their existing insurance company show up, as it is expected to be busy each day.
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