The unprecedented hurricane activity this past quarter has left the citizens of Florida and their governmental agencies reeling.   Fortunately the lessons that were learned from Andrew’s 1992 devastation saved numerous lives.  

The Florida Panhandle experienced the season’s warm-up act, Tropical Storm Bonnie.   Less than 36 hours later, Charley came ashore on the southwest coast taking nearly nine hours to cross the peninsula to make its exit in Volusia County.  

Three weeks later Frances strolled across the state, making landfall in Martin County and exiting into the Gulf of Mexico just north of Tampa.   Downgraded to a Tropical Storm, Frances visited Silver Coast and moved up into Georgia.

Count eleven more days and they eye of Hurricane Ivan just missed the Emerald Coast, but the devastation was tremendous.   Caught in the northeast quadrant of the storm, residents from Bay County and westward were slammed with winds upward of 120 MPH and 16-foot storm surge.   Not understanding that he had worn out his stay, Ivan wandered up north and then circled back around to park in the Gulf of Mexico to the west of the Panhandle, continuing to bring unwelcomed rain.

Jeanne blew into the Treasure Coast less than two weeks later, following a similar path to Frances’.   This Category 3 storm continued the devastation started by Charley in mid-August, and storm-weary Floridians were almost too numb to react.  

It may be more than a few months before each governmental agency can sort out and evaluate the effectiveness of its emergency management operations, but it is clear that every resource possible was dedicated to the safety and well being of the citizenry and preservation of property.   Communication and cooperation among local, state, and federal agencies was unprecedented.   And, as stronger sense of community was found throughout the state.   Neighbors are no longer strangers to each other and residents have become much more aware that the commodities provided by local government are basic to their standard of living.

What does this summary have to do with PGIT?   The Trust’s Claims Administrator, PGCS, also had to deal with challenges and hardships to a business, just as each of you has.   Despite these issues, the office was staffed on weekends and extended hours during the week.   Throughout these storms and hurricanes, members of the Trust could contact and adjuster to file claims or discuss steps needed for the preservation of property.   As of this date, more than 970 claims have been reported.

PRU, the Trust’s Administrator, is responsible for carrying out the directives of the Board of Trustees.   At the beginning of every Fund Year (October), PRU carefully and fairly underwrites members’ coverage contracts.   This work, coupled a strong reinsurance structure, has minimized the potentially devastating financial impact to the Trust from the storms.

I am confident, that over the next few months, as Florida’s public sector sees the fallout from this hurricane season, the Trust’s members will feel assured that they made the right decision to place their insurance coverage with PGIT.

Mr. Benny Stickland, Chair