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Allstate won’t renew thousands of
florida policies, seeks rate increase
Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook, IL, says it will stop writing commercial
insurance policies in Florida and won’t renew 16,000 commercial policies
and 95,000 residential homeowner policies, a decision made because of
the four hurricanes that hit the state last year.
Allstate reports it will keep 663,000 homeowner polices in Florida and
that Universal Insurance Co. of North America has agreed to write policies
for any Allstate customers who are not renewed. Homeowners will be able
to purchase replacement policies through their Allstate agents through
an agreement reached between the two companies.
Allstate also announced it will seek a rate increase, but didn’t
indicate how much of an increase it will seek. The company reports that
it paid about $2 billion in claims after Hurricanes Charley, Frances,
Ivan and Jeanne.
LEE JOINS ALL POINTS
Andy Lee has joined All Points Screw, Bolt and Specialty Co., Pompano Beach,
FL. His new responsibilities will include managing the sales force and assisting
with marketing efforts.
Lee has been in the fastener industry since graduating from Indiana University
in 1991. He has worked in the Florida market for Star Expansion Co., Christy
Associates (then Elco Industries and Gunnebo) and ITW Buildex.
All Points Screw, Bolt and Specialty Co. is a full-line fastener house.
Nesselrode joins simonton marketing team
Simonton Windows®, Parkersburg, WV, has hired Carrie Nesselrode as director
of promotions. In her new role she is responsible for overseeing the promotions
and public relations activities for the company, including the coordination
of major trade shows, supporting new product introductions and overseeing
the Nitpickers™ program.
Nesselrode most recently served as the corporate marketing manager for Specialty
Building Resources, a sales division for Hy-Lite® products and Fypon®,
sister companies of Simonton Windows. During her time with Specialty Building
Resources, she worked on many joint projects with Simonton, including the
company’s first participation in the 2005 International Builders’
Show in January.
In her new role, she will plan, develop and execute all of the electronic
communications activities for Simonton, execute special promotions for customers
and support the company’s coastal products initiative.
Roofing Institute Surveys Damage Following
Hurricane Charley
The Tile Roofing Institute (TRI), Chicago, IL, dispatched technical experts
to southwest Florida to assess hurricane damage following Hurricane Charley
last year. TRI found “relatively minor damage” to tile-roof
homes that were in compliance with current building codes and using improved
fastening systems.
Rick Olsen, TRI technical director, and a delegation of TRI members toured
Hurricane Charley’s path, including Punta Gorda Isles, Harbor View,
Burnt Store, Sanibel Island and inland areas, to assess roof damage and
the need for tile-roof repair. The delegation studied the effectiveness
of building codes enacted following Hurricane Andrew to better protect
against high winds. These building codes require use of a fastening system
developed and wind-tunnel-tested by TRI, according to an Institute statement.
Despite reported sustained wind speeds of 145 mph and peak gusts reaching
173 mph, the delegation found that the majority of tile-roof homes in
compliance with current building codes, and using the improved fastening
systems, experienced relatively minor damage. Unfortunately, in Punta
Gorda Isles, where wind speeds were well in excess of the area’s
120 mph building code requirements and the majority of homes were built
prior to 1997 building code revisions, more severe damage was evident.
These homes experienced damage throughout the entire building structure.
TRI and its members will use the data collected from the hurricane damage
assessment to continue efforts to improve the durability and safety of
tile-roofing systems, the TRI statement reports.
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