News: 2007 Press Release

SACRAMENTO ― California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that as of this morning, 502 emergency insurance adjusters have been registered with the Department of Insurance to expedite the processing of insurance claims for victims in Southern California's fire-ravaged communities.

Just after the fires broke out, anticipating the urgent need for more assistance than insurance companies in California could provide on their own, Commissioner Poizner declared an insurance emergency. Through this declaration, the Commissioner authorized out of state adjusters to come to California and assist victims in processing their claims so they can get paid as quickly as possible.

"As Insurance Commissioner, it's my duty to make sure that fire victims are fully equipped to recover from the tremendous losses they've endured," said Commissioner Poizner. "So far, I have been pleased with the expediency of many insurance companies in taking care of their customers in the wake of these destructive fires. Since the fires broke out in Southern California, I have been working relentlessly to help victims recover, and will continue to do so until victims are back on their feet."

Since the Southern California wildfires broke out, Commissioner Poizner has taken the following steps to assist victims in their recovery efforts:

• Worked with Governor Schwarzenegger and local leaders to jointly help victims pave the road to recovery
• Declared an Insurance Emergency to cut through the red tape and help insurance companies process claims more quickly, to expedite recovery efforts
• Extended the hours of the Department of Insurance (CDI) Consumer Hotline (1-800-927-HELP) so that fire victims may contact the Department of Insurance after normal business hours to ask any insurance questions or report a complaint
• Coordinated with CEOs of homeowners insurance companies in Southern California to ensure victims are paid quickly
• Deployed CDI staff to assist fire victims at nine Local Assistance Centers and Disaster Recovery Centers in Southern California
• Dispatched a team of law enforcement personnel to help with evacuations, traffic and looting prevention
• Ordered CDI law enforcement teams to be on location and in full force to catch perpetrators seeking to defraud homeowners
• Teamed with San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Sheriff Bill Kolander to stop criminals preying on fire victims
• Formed a Southern California Wildfire Task Force composed of CDI executive staff, insurance company executives, consumer groups and attorneys to address issues and prevent problems from occurring