State of Maryland

Hurricane Isabel Recovery                               

October 2003 – December 2003

James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA) was retained by the State of Maryland to assess its restoration activities from Hurricane Isabel, which hit the Mid-Atlantic region on September 18, 2003.   The JLWA team reviewed Maryland's homeowners' insurance policies and restrictive clauses; the Maryland Insurance Administration alternative claim resolution process; the National Flood Insurance Single Adjuster Program; the State of Maryland's commercial insurance policy; Maryland's Hurricane Isabel insurance claim; the process of coordinating insurance claims with FEMA reports; individual assistance and public assistance claims; and coastal erosion issues.

JLWA identified key recommendations to enhance the State's recovery efforts and to mitigate the impact of future disasters, including:

• Modifying "Proof of Loss" regulations so they are less burdensome on homeowners

   

• Creating a mediation/alternative resolution procedure for settling disputed property claims and

   

• Integrating insurance claim and FEMA project worksheet development processes

As a consequence the State understands the limitations of insurance and FEMA reimbursements, which allows the maximization of resources from both.  

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