Thursday, March 26, 2015
Commissioner John D. Doak wants to make sure tornado survivors get the help they need. More than 1,100 homeowners insurance claims have already been filed in relation to Wednesday’s severe weather across the state.
“Tornadoes are a devastating act of Mother Nature that Oklahomans are all too familiar with. After seeing the damage in Sand Springs and Moore, I know it will take a while for these families to recover,” said Doak. “We want to make sure these folks have their insurance claims handled promptly and fairly.”
The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) has set up consumer assistance booths to help storm survivors. The booths are located at the Serve Moore Community Renewal Center, 224 S. Chestnut Ave. and the Foundation Church, 7785 S. Highway 97, Sapulpa.
OID offers the following tips for storm victims:
“Sadly, this is also a time when crooks try to take advantage of people. Our Anti-Fraud Unit is out making sure that doesn’t happen,” said Doak.
OID’s Anti-Fraud Unit has investigators deployed to Sand Springs and Moore. In addition to installing yard signs featuring OID’s consumer assistance phone number, the investigators are going door-to-door to educate storm survivors about potential scams. They are also sharing these tips on hiring service providers after a disaster:
The Oklahoma Insurance Department also offers EAGLE Mediation. It’s a program that helps citizens and insurance companies settle insurance claims disputes to avoid costly and time-consuming lawsuits. Commissioner Doak encourages storm victims to use this free service.
“We think that Oklahomans will be more satisfied with results from EAGLE mediation than if they took their dispute to court,” Doak said. “Cutting down on the number of lawsuits benefits both the consumer and the insurance company.”
Consumers with insurance questions are encouraged tocontact the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Consumer Assistance Division at 1-800-522-0071.
About the Oklahoma Insurance Department
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.
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For more information contact:
Kelly Dexter
405-522-0683