The Windstorm Insurance Network, its members, officers, and board members deserve an enormous shout-out. The WIND web site lists donations to these affected by disasters for nearly 20 years. The most up-to-date donation is for the tragic Maui wildfires:
In early August 2023, a sequence of wildfires broke out in Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. The wind-driven fires, fanned by wind gusts topping 60 mph, prompted evacuations, and brought on widespread harm, killing not less than 115 individuals, leaving 388 others lacking, destroying greater than 2,000 buildings within the city of Lahaina.
WIND made a contribution of $20,000 to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund, and $5,000 to the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation’s Fire Relief Fund.
Last December, the Windstorm Insurance Network made the next $60,000 donation:
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, made landfall on Florida’s west coast, after which slowly moved throughout the Florida peninsula, hammering the state with heavy rains and highly effective winds, inflicting catastrophic flooding and energy outages. Barrier islands have been disconnected from the mainland when the Sanibel Causeway was destroyed. Ian was Florida’s deadliest hurricane since 1935 and may be the most expensive by way of property harm.
In November 2022, Hurricane Nicole devastated elements of Florida’s east coast and brought on extreme seaside erosion. The uncommon November storm brought on vital flooding in central Florida.
WIND offered $20,000 every to Rebuilding Together, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and Harry Chapin Food Bank, with funds earmarked to help hurricane aid efforts.
I’m very proud to have served as President of WIND. Following the 2011 devastating and lethal tornados hanging Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I famous the next in Tuscaloosa Tornados Cause Catastrophic Damage:
I noticed probably the most stunning and most tragic sights from the air yesterday. The area shuttle was clearly seen, like a flying yellow hearth torch, above the clouds within the brilliant morning blue sky. As it got here by way of the cloud cowl, Endeavor was an inspiring sight.
The path of Tuscaloosa’s F5 twister was additionally clearly seen from the air and awe inspiring. The magnitude of catastrophic harm considered from the bottom is difficult to explain.
Mary Fortson and I accompanied the Windstorm Insurance Network‘s Executive Director, Michelle Griffin, to Tuscaloosa yesterday. The Windstorm Network gave a lot wanted donations to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. Both are stationed in momentary quarters as a result of their everlasting places have been broken by the tornados.
At the Red Cross operation headquarters, I used to be proven a Tuscaloosa County map displaying the trail and breath of every twister that ripped by way of Tuscaloosa. The F5 was greater than a mile large because it left Tuscaloosa headed for Birmingham. Red Cross officers advised us they have been fortunate to have closed their earlier Red Cross workplace shortly earlier than the F5 hit.
Tuscaloosa twister harm eerily jogs my memory of the worst harm from Hurricanes Charlie, Ivan, Katrina and Ike. Hurricanes sometimes give individuals some alternative to evacuate. Tornadoes don’t. I can’t think about the phobia felt by those that confronted the F5.
Tuscaloosa joins the listing of blue tarp cities; tarps now cowl a whole lot of roofs all through the town to mitigate additional harm. They will stay for months till repaired.
I encourage readers of this weblog to evaluation the in depth listing of donations remodeled the previous twenty years. If you might be within the claims adjustment enterprise, I extremely advocate becoming a member of the Windstorm Insurance Network. The 2024 Windstorm Conference is scheduled for January 29 to February 1, 2024, on the Renaissance Orlando at Seaworld. You can discover extra particulars right here. For professionals concerned in windstorm and hurricane claims, this annual occasion is a must-attend.
Here is a hyperlink for membership: https://windnetwork.com/membership/
Thought For A Post Labor Day Afternoon
The easiest acts of kindness are by much more highly effective than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.
—Mahatma Gandhi