Houma Representative Tanner Magee didn’t mince words when calling out GOHSEP for their slow progress in setting up trailers for Hurricane Ida victims. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
______________________________________
If you’re having trouble settling with your insurance company after Hurricane Ida, there’s a new way to try and resolve disputes. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 2 (32)…I’m Dave Brannen”
______________________________________
Houma Representative Tanner Magee sent a blistering letter to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness criticizing the agency for the slow progress in setting up temporary trailers for Hurricane Ida victims who can’t live in their damaged homes. Magee says over 11-hundred trailers have been purchased…
cut 3 (02) “….this point”
Magee also blames the contractor the state hired. GOHSEP says they are beefing up staff as there are many steps that need to take place to get the trailers in place. Magee says contractor APTIM is not being held accountable for timelines and producing results.
Cut 4 (05) “…acceptable.”
In addition to not meeting adequate timelines, Magee says the contractor is not communicating whatsoever with applicants. He says there’s no excuse especially for those applicants who are in such a vulnerable state after losing their homes.
Cut 5 (09) “…from people.”
The Edwards administration estimates there are nearly 13,000 households that could be in need of sheltering assistance from Ida.
__________________________________
State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says a voluntary mediation program to help settle residential damage claims stemming from Hurricane Ida is being set up through his office. He says two mediation firms will help resolve damage disputes of up to 50-thousand-dollars at a cost of 600-dollars to the insurer or the policyholder.
Cut 6 (08) “…and their insurers.”
You can contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance for further information.
Donelon says the mediations will take place with either reps from Mediation & Arbitration Professional Systems in Metairie or Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions in Baton Rouge.
Cut 7 (10) “….$600 fee.”
If only a partial settlement is reached after the 90-minutes, additional costs will apply for a more prolonged meeting. The program runs through June 30th of next year.
He says insurers, as well as policyholders, are likely to appreciate the ability to resolve their disputes through this voluntary mediation effort.
Cut 8 (11) “…are in dispute.”
Donelon says the $50,000 cap on the dispute mediation was chosen because of the costs and complexity of trying to resolve claims above that amount.
__________________________________________
Senate Commerce Chairman Rick Ward says the state is still waiting on AT-and-T to explain why phone service went down in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Ward says they will bring AT-and-T officials back to the Capitol to get an explanation and assurances a similar outage will not happen in the future…
Cut 9 (11) “..looked at.”
Ward says he’s also yet to hear from utility companies on how much of a surcharge customers will pay for the repair and in some cases the rebuilding of the power distribution system following Hurricane Ida. Entergy Louisiana has said the damages from 2020 hurricanes is two-point-one billion dollars and Ward says Entergy and Cleco are still tabulating Ida damages
Cut 10 (10) “…pass on”
Ward is 39-years-old and a Republican from Port Allen. He says he is talking with his family about running for governor in 2023. Ward says his ability to work with both major parties could make him an attractive candidate
Cut 11 (08) “..right thing”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry have also indicated they may run for governor in two years.
______________________________________________
Senator Bill Cassidy said on the HBO documentary news series, Axios, that he would not vote for Donald Trump if he ran for President in 2024. Cassidy says he made that statement because during the Trump presidency Republicans lost the White House, the U-S House and blames the former President for losing the Senate…
Cut 12 (11) “..Herbert Hoover.”
Cassidy says Donald Trump not winning in November has resulted in a Biden Administration that’s resulted in a bad economy for the American people…
Cut 13 (12) “…win elections.”
Trump has responded by calling Louisiana’s Senior Senator a Republican in Name Only and also said “Wacky Bill Cassidy” could not be elected dog catcher in Louisiana. During a conference call with reporters, it sounded like Cassidy doesn’t think Trump could win in 2024
Cut 14 (08) “…going forward,”