PIA Texas Agents Offer Office Space to Agents Fleeing Hurricane Rita

Professional Insurance Agents in Texas who are fleeing Hurricane Rita are getting a helping hand from their fellow PIA agents. Agents located inland from the projected landfall of Rita have offered temporary office space to agents evacuating in advance of the monstrous hurricane.

PIA agents who are in the process of evacuating their agencies but who have not already arranged for temporary office space, along with agents in Texas with space to volunteer, can contact PIA at tedbe@pianet.org. PIA has also issued a Preparedness Alert to agents, with suggestions on what they need to keep in mind as they evacuate.

PIA has created a special Hurricane Rita Web Resource Center with information for Texas agents, including the Preparedness Alert, ACORD forms and updates from the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). The association will be updating this page continually as the situation warrants.

On Sept. 21, PIA National and its affiliate, the Texas Insurance Professionals, recommended that the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) ease certain insurance regulations that apply to insurance claims processing by issuing emergency rulings, to assist consumers before the hurricane makes landfall.

“This is a Texas size storm and it’s going to take a Texas size effort to deal with it,” said the PIA affiliate president Jim Beathard of Conroe, Texas.

PIA Hurricane Rita Resource Center: www.pianet.com/Rita.htm.

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2006.