http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/tornadodam_1165.mp3
The Missouri Insurance Department will hold a town hall meeting August 11, 7-8:30p at the Cedar County Courthouse in Stockton for those impacted by the May tornadoes. Residents will have the chance to talk about problems they've had with their insurance company.Visit the Missouri Insurance Department's Consumer Page
THE TORNADOES HIT SOUTHWEST MISSOURI IN EARLY MAY.
BUT MANY AREA RESIDENTS ARE STILL HAGGLING WITH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES OVER CLAIMS.
THAT'S WHY THE MISSOURI INSURANCE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO HOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING'TO GIVE FOLKS A CHANCE TO VENT.
RANDY MC-CONNELL IS THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
HE DESCRIBES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
MC-CONNELL SAYS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS, THEY SHOULD FIRST TRY TO RESOLVE THEM WITH THE COMPANY.
IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THE DEPARTMENT WILL ASSIST CONSUMERS.
INSURANCE INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY THE DEMAND HAS BEEN INTENSE ON INSURANCE COMPANIES FOLLOWING THE MAY TORNADOES.
IN FACT, MC-CONNELL SAYS THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY BAD, RESULTING IN NON-RENEWALS FOR SOME HOMEOWNERS.
THE MISSOURI INSURANCE COALITION HAS ITS OWN EXPLANATION FOR WHY THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS.
CALVIN CALL IS THE COALITION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'HE SAYS COMPANIES ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT.
CALVIN CALL SAYS IT'S TRUE THAT SOME COMPANIES HAVE LEFT MISSOURI BECAUSE RECENT STORMS HAVE BEEN RESULTED IN SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE.
THE TOWN HALL MEETING FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY THE MAY TORNADOES WILL BE MONDAY, AUGUST 11TH 7 TO 8:30 P-M AT THE CEDAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN STOCKTON.
I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR KSMU NEWS.