Statewide Group News

Florida insurance commissioner approves major rate hike for Citizens

Georgetown County commercial, residential damage from Ian in excess of $53M

Ian will 'financially ruin' homeowners and insurers

Ian walloped the state as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States, causing widespread devastation and flooding that trapped residents in their homes.

Ian walloped the state as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States, causing widespread devastation and flooding that trapped residents in their homes.

Statewide Insurance Coastal Offices Closed on Friday September 29, 2002

Insurance company claims departments have toll-free numbers to handle hurricane claims until agents are able and permitted to return to offices, expected on Monday 10/3/2022.

Ian is almost a Category 5 on 9/28/2002

The National Weather Service issued storm surge and tropical storm watches Tuesday for Beaufort, Charleston, Georgetown, and Horry Counties as Hurricane Ian’s track has taken a shift eastward.

Due to Hurricane Ian's location and projected storm track, all Insurance Companies have now suspended binding authority as of September 28, 2022

Dangerous heat predicted to hit 3 times more often in future

SUVs, pickup trucks more likely to hit pedestrians than cars, study finds

Drivers of bigger vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUVs are more likely to hit pedestrians while making turns than drivers of cars, according to a new study.

Officials board 69 boats on Intracoastal Waterway during safety sweep

The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office joined 35 other agencies on Friday to perform a law enforcement and safety sweep on the Intracoastal Waterway throughout the state of South Carolina including Chatham County, Georgia.

Tax Credits for S.C. Homeowners

Did you know qualifying South Carolina homeowners may be able to save money on their tax bills? If you're remodeling, making your home more energy-efficient, or paying casualty insurance, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) wants you to know about state tax credits that may be available to you.

SC’s coastal counties account for more than half of all statewide home sales

A handful of counties along South Carolina's coast account for more than half of all home sales in the state during the first half of the year as buyers continue to seek seaside escapes in the era of COVID-19.

NCCI will treat COVID-19 as catastrophic comp event

The COVID-19 pandemic will be treated as a catastrophic event in workers compensation loss cost/rate filings, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

Brace for flooding. A moon 'wobble' is coming, NASA warns

Thanks to a "wobble" in the moon's orbit and rising sea levels, every coast in the United States will face rapidly increasing high tides that will start "a decade of dramatic increases in flood numbers" in the 2030s.

Why Builder Lumber Prices Remain Higher than Headlines Suggest

While the price of framing lumber has dropped roughly 50% over the past seven weeks according to Random Lengths, prices paid by builders have declined by a fraction of that amount. The disconnect — which has always existed — is inherent to the lumber supply chain.

Strategies Builders Employ to Combat Rising Building Material Costs and Shortages

How have single-family builders reacted to recent shortages and price increases in building materials?

How You Can Help Solve the Workforce Shortage

NAHB Associates invite you to join Chairman Chuck Fowke on Tuesday, July 13, at 2 p.m. ET, for a shop talk discussion on successful initiatives to address the industry's workforce shortage.

States move to stop insurance companies from discriminating against your dog

When it comes to dogs, insurance companies keep their customers on a short leash. In most states, home insurance providers are allowed to consider your dog's breed when setting your monthly premium — or whether they'll insure you at all.

With car prices surging, yours is a prime target for thieves

Vehicle thefts in the United States jumped 9% last year from a year earlier to 873,000, the highest number in more than a decade, according to statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau provided to CNBC's "American Greed."

4 Smart Insurance Moves to Make for Hurricane Season

SC senator on why insurance isn't required for mopeds, says it could come soon

After a couple of days of reaching out to South Carolina lawmakers, we have a much clearer picture Friday of the path to require insurance for moped drivers in South Carolina.

Auto insurance rates rise, but insurers could still qet squeezed by higher costs ahead

Despite recent increases in auto insurance rates, the market is still soft, according to Elyse Greenspan, a managing director at Wells Fargo."The increase sequentially was very modest," Greenspan said in an interview.

How to Lower Workers' Compensation Costs

Businesses with safe workplaces could see an experience modifier that is better than average and pay less for their workers' comp premiums – while also protecting their employees. Companies wondering how to lower workers' compensation costs can follow the recommendations in this article.

Think before you text: Distracted driving deaths rise nearly 10%, report says

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently released a new report titled Using Electronic Devices While Driving: Legislation and Enforcement Implications, detailing the rising number of deaths related to distracted driving and encouraging states to enact stricter laws to prevent such actions.

Workers’ Compensation and COVID: More Data on Evolving Claims

Workers' compensation insurers aren't getting the large aggregate volumes of COVID-related claims projected during the early months of the pandemic, but different data sources give varying readouts on developments for individual U.S. states and classes of workers.

AUTO DAMAGE CLAIMS GROWING TWICE AS FAST AS INFLATION

Just a Car Crash Away: Cities with the Most Accidents

Despite reductions in driving in the early stages of the pandemic, driving levels are back to normal across the country. This also means that the risk of getting into an accident is now higher.

Which Cars Are the Cheapest (And Most Expensive) To Insure?

MOST DRIVERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE EFFECT ON THEIR AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS OF SUCH PERSONAL FACTORS AS AGE, DRIVING RECORD, AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE. LESS APPRECIATED, PERHAPS, IS THE EFFECT ON YOUR PREMIUMS OF THE CAR YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE.

2020 autonomous vehicle market update

Hurricane Zeta onshore insured losses estimated at $3B to $5B

Total onshore U.S. insured losses from Hurricane Zeta are estimated to be between $3 billion and $5 billion, according to Newark, California-based catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions Inc.

Heightened focus on employer duty of care ahead of business travel revival

The business travel insurance landscape has been massively impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Business travel came to a screeching halt by March 2020, with many individuals self-selecting themselves out of the skies due to concerns over health risks and potential exposure to the virus, and many employers calling time on business travel in order to keep their employees safe.

Global commercial insurance pricing rises in Q3

A report issued today by Marsh has revealed that global commercial insurance prices rose by 20% in Q3 2020, news which marks the twelfth consecutive quarter of price increases.

Wayne White on the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act (PRIA)

Making economic survival as accesssable to small businesses as well as large ones is the focus of the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act (PRIA), according to PIA National President Wayne White.

3rd Quarter Catastrophe Losses Exceed $1 Billion

Insured catastrophe losses for the third quarter of 2020 turned out to be lower than most industry observers expected.

3 Risks Becoming More Prevalent for K-12 Schools now that COVID-19 Is in the Mix

Risks abound for every industry, but schools servicing students K-12 must be certain to review these exposures now that the novel coronavirus has disrupted learning across the country.

Water, water everywhere, but no insurance

What's wrong with us? We've lost thousands of dollars of household goods and priceless remembrances because of torrents of water in our streets, homes and basements — yet we still don't have flood insurance.

Political Violence in the Wake of a Disputed Election Is a Real Threat.

No matter who wins on November 3, a disaster-weary country will need all the help it can get to stop the tide of mounting losses and uncertainty. Preparing now for the likelihood of post-election uncertainty can help.

When you are Renting Cars Abroad, It's Renter Beware

I ONCE rented a car at an agency in a garage under the Villa Borghese in Rome. The parking structure was tight and poorly lighted, and before I even exited I put a dent in the vehicle, thanks to a low concrete barrier I couldn't see in the rearview mirror.

Be careful and be alive.

Avoid following too closely. Try this test: When the car ahead passes a landmark, slowly count, "one one-thousand, two two-thousand." You're too close if you pass the landmark before you stop counting.

Traffic stops go digital with e-insurance cards

State legislatures nationwide are hoping a tweak in statutes will save drivers from tickets or at least spare them from digging through their glove boxes, wallets or pocketbooks for their insurance cards.

Beaufort County ranks in top quarter of SC for most car accidents

Beaufort County is among South Carolina's more wreck-prone counties, according to AAA Carolinas, but local officials say improvements underway on several major highways should make driving safer.

Winter Weather Property Protection

Cold weather freeze-ups can cause vital fire protection systems to malfunction. Cold temperatures can cause sprinkler piping to burst resulting in major water damage to buildings, contents, and equipment.

Spring is here!

Of course, because spring is a time for new beginnings, cleaning and organization around the house are very popular this time of year.

A time to celebrate mothers

As the second Sunday of May nears, it's time to think of ways to celebrate mothers - although, of course, that's a worthy pursuit at any time of year!

New law protects homeowners against roofing scams

A new South Carolina law provides homeowners with certain protections against roofing scams that have become increasingly common.

NAMIC: NFIP Rates Must Reflect Risk; Senate Should Not Delay Increases

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is asking the Senate to resist calls to delay or rescind scheduled flood insurance rate increases, arguing that the rates must adequately reflect the risks.

Federal Regulators Look to Require Banks to Accept Private Flood Insurance

Federal bank regulators are proposing a rule aimed at encouraging flood insurance customers to buy private flood insurance.

NOAA: Atlantic Hurricane Season on track to be ABOVE NORMAL!

NOAA issued its updated Atlantic hurricane season outlook today saying the season is shaping up to be above normal with the possibility that it could be very active. The season has already produced four named storms, with the peak of the season – mid-August through October – yet to come.

Elimination of subsidized flood insurance premiums through annual rate increases

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reformation Act of 2012 (BW 12) reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2017. Along with other changes described in previous agency bulletins, BW 12 included a mandate to eliminate the offering of NFIP coverage at 'subsidized' premiums, which refers to premiums set artificially below the level suggested by the actuarial experience of the class of business.

Atlantic Coast Can Expect 3 to 6 Major Hurricanes This Season: NOAA

The government's weather center is forecasting that this year's Atlantic hurricane season that begins June 1 will be an active one, perhaps even extremely active, during its six months.

76 Tornadoes in May Caused $2B-$5B in Insured Losses

Tornadoes that struck the United States from May 18 to May 20 caused anywhere from $2 billion to $5 billion in insured losses, disaster modeling company Eqecat said.

U.S. traffic fatalities increase, but will insurance?

For the first time in seven years, more people died on American roads last year than the year before. The increase comes amid growing awareness of distracted driving and could affect auto insurance rates if it's sustained.

The Assault on State-Regulated Workers' Comp

A critical component of our national "safety net," the state-regulated workers' compensation system, is being besieged, another victim of politicians reaching everywhere to generate short-term benefits by increasing services without raising taxes.

New mobile apps help consumers anytime, anywhere

HARTFORD, Conn., April 25, 2013 – As the number of consumers turning to their easy-to-use smartphones continues to rise, Travelers (NYSE: TRV) announced today the launch of its first mobile applications, "Auto Accident Help" for iPhone® and "Quick Connect" for BlackBerry® smartphones.

More Americans Renting rather than Buying

HARTFORD, Conn., April 10, 2013 – Travelers (NYSE: TRV) recently analyzed national housing figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the results indicate more than a 10 percent gain in the number of renter-occupied housing units between 2004 and 2012.