Preparing Coastal Residents for Hurricane Season 2023

Blaise Ingoglia, serving as both Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal, has launched a strategic initiative to prepare coastal residents for the impending hurricane season. Announced in Tallahassee, this program involves personnel from the Office’s Consumer Services division engaging directly with coastal communities. As hurricane season spans June 1 through November, Ingoglia stressed the importance of proactive measures to equip residents before storms strike.

Ingoglia underscored the significance of direct community engagement: “This is different than what we have done in years past. We aim to proactively provide information to communities in advance.” The initiative distributes essential materials, including guidance on utility management, home preparation protocols, evacuation procedures, emergency contacts, and insurance-related advice.

A primary concern for Ingoglia is informing residents about managing home repairs and insurance claims efficiently after storms. Since 2020, the state has faced a rise in fraudulent schemes allied with hurricanes. Ingoglia cautioned residents on potential scams, emphasizing vigilance: “Be aware of frauds and scams; I cannot stress this enough.” Recently, Ingoglia’s office helped apprehend an insurance adjuster accused of a $700,000 claims misappropriation linked to Hurricane Ian in 2022. Additionally, Attorney General James Uthmeier secured a civil settlement from Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co., mandating a $30 million payment to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund due to fraudulent activities connected to Hurricane Irma in 2017.