Illinois, U.S.A. — The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says progress is being made in identifying and removing thousands of vehicles damaged beyond repair by Sandy. The estimate of 230,000 insurance claims for vehicle damage in the areas affected by Sandy remains unchanged at this time. Many of those vehicles were flooded and are being towed to holding areas where they will be loaded on car haulers and taken to facilities to be crushed.

On December 5, NICB officials visited holding areas in Brooklyn where more than 7,000 new vehicles awaiting delivery to dealerships had been parked when Sandy flooded the area with more than three feet of water. All but 800 cars had been removed. The vehicles suffered extensive damage as the wind and water shoved them into each other and flooded their electronic systems, damaging them beyond repair.

“New York City Police and the other law enforcement agencies around the area were understandably focusing on other emergencies and disaster efforts initially,” said NICB New York Region Operations Director Thomas Lohmann. “Now they have begun to address the issue of dealing with thousands of flooded and damaged vehicles, and they are doing an outstanding job of getting these vehicles towed to holding areas where they can be identified and accounted for prior to being scrapped. They are also going after towing companies that have taken cars off the street without permission, and are submitting outrageous towing and storage bills to insurance companies. Some may be holding the vehicles in an attempt to increase storage fees, or actually claim title to the vehicle after it sits at their facility for an extended time.”

NICB member insurance companies have provided extra resources to tow damaged vehicles and dispose of them, and are working with NICB to ensure all of the Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) of these vehicles are reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) at www.vehiclehistory.gov.

NICB’s efforts are focused on making sure these damaged vehicles are identified. Using VINCheck(SM), consumers can enter the VIN of a vehicle they are interested in purchasing to see if it has ever been declared as salvage. VINCheck, available free of charge at www.nicb.org, provides access to information from insurance companies representing nearly 90 percent of the insured, private passenger market. It was created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“Despite everyone’s best efforts, there will be cases where damaged vehicles are cleaned up, dried out and sold by unscrupulous dealers or individuals who know how to beat the system,” said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. “No one should be driving a car that’s been sitting in four feet of water. It’s unsafe. But people who will sell you a car like that aren’t worried about your safety.”

NICB is also warning victims of Sandy to be on the lookout for contractors who may try to take advantage of the situation by offering to do repairs in return for an advance payment or insurance check. Unscrupulous contractors may take the money and run, inflicting more financial damage and suffering on the victim.

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Reading, U.S.A. — The FirstEnergy Foundation has contributed $25,000 to the American Red Cross in Berks, Monroe and Bucks counties to support relief efforts for residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. FirstEnergy is the parent company of Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed) Company, which was particularly impacted by the storm.

Hurricane Sandy slammed into the Northeast on October 29, packing damaging winds exceeding 80 mph in some areas and causing widespread power outages in portions of the Met-Ed territory.

“Hurricane Sandy had a devastating effect on our region, and our crews are working around the clock to restore service to those who remain without power,” said Mike Doran, Met-Ed regional president. “We’re glad to provide assistance to local American Red Cross chapters so it can help those who need it.”

The grant will be distributed to local American Red Cross chapters in Berks, Monroe and Bucks counties to support relief efforts in hard-hit areas. The FirstEnergy Foundation will match all gifts employees make to the Red Cross during this crisis.

The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy and provides support to non-profit, tax-exempt health and human services agencies; educational organizations; cultural and arts programs and institutions; and civic groups in areas served by FirstEnergy’s 10 electric operating companies and in areas where the company has facilities.

Met-Ed serves approximately 550,000 customers in 15 Pennsylvania counties.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

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New Yor, U.S.A. — Insurance companies have assembled thousands of claims adjusters from around the country to handle claims for damage to homes, businesses and vehicles caused by Hurricane Sandy. They will directly enter areas impacted by the storm as soon as permitted by civil authorities and conditions on the scene. Policyholders are urged to contact their insurance agents or company representatives as soon as possible to begin the claims process.

In the aftermath of the storm, many people have questions about how insurance works following a natural disaster. The Insurance Information Institute has outlined some of these questions and provided answers below.

1. Is wind damage covered under my homeowners insurance policy?

Property insurance covers damage from windstorms, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, to the “residence premises,” whether it is a single-family home, a duplex where the policyholder lives in one of the units, or any other building where the policyholder resides as shown on the insurance declarations page. Dwelling coverage also applies to an attached structure, such as a garage or deck. A standard homeowners policy also covers “other structures” that are unattached, such as a separate garage building or shed and swimming pools. The policy also includes coverage for damage to contents.

Damage from flooding, including flooding generated by hurricane-generated storm surge typically is not covered under a standard homeowners policy. Flood insurance is available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

2. Does my renters insurance cover damage from winds?

A “tenant homeowner policy” or renters policy covers personal belongings that may be damaged from the storm by wind. Damage from flooding may be covered under some renters policies, although most require separate policies be purchased from the NFIP. Damage unrelated to your personal possessions, such as part of the apartment’s structure like the walls and floor, is covered under the building owner’s policy.

3. Are flood losses covered under my homeowners insurance policy? How will insurers handle claims that involve both wind and flood damage?

While there are a few exceptions, the vast majority of homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover flood damage, including damage from a storm surge. Flood coverage requires a separate policy from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If you purchased a flood policy, in most cases you can file a flood claim with your insurer, although some companies may have you file directly with the NFIP. Some companies may send a single adjuster to handle both the flood and wind claim, while others may send two claims professionals who specialize in distinguishing between the two types of loss. Determining the precise cause of damage is necessary to properly pay the claim.

4. Is property damage from a storm surge considered flood damage?

Flood insurance policies cover damage from a storm surge. The standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover damage from floods, such as flooding from a storm surge.

5. I live in a condo/co-op. Am I covered for wind damage to my unit?

If you have purchased a homeowners policy tailored to condominiums or a co-op, you would be covered for damage to the interior space of your home. The condo association’s insurance might have coverage for your fixtures, wiring or plumbing, or it may only provide coverage from the “bare walls” and not what is behind them. You can obtain a copy of the master policy to better understand what is covered.

6. Is flooding covered under a condo/co-op insurance policy?

Flood damage to the building is covered only if the condo/co-op association purchased a separate flood policy, either from the NFIP or through a private insurance company. This flood insurance would cover only the structure itself, including common areas; the condo/co-op flood insurance policy will not pay for damage caused by flood waters to the personal belongings of individual tenants. Tenants would have flood damage coverage only under their own flood policy.

7. My car was flooded in the storm. Is it covered?

Flood damage to vehicles, including flooding from a storm surge, is covered if you have purchased comprehensive coverage, also known as “other than collision” coverage, which is optional with a standard auto policy.

8. If I make temporary repairs to my home, will I get reimbursed?

Yes. Do not wait until a claims adjuster arrives to make temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage. Most policies have a provision to reimburse you for the expenses of reasonable and necessary repairs that protects against more damage, up to a specified dollar amount. Be sure to save all the receipts from purchases related to your repairs.

9. The power went out during the storm and food in the refrigerator and freezer were spoiled. Is that covered?

Following a hurricane, most insurance companies include food-spoilage coverage, usually for a set amount that can range from $250 to $500 per appliance. In a non-storm situation, however, if you lose electrical power without damage to the residence, it is typically not covered in the insurance policy. Most policies include coverage for “sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current,” meaning that a power surge would be covered that damaged the building and items considered part of your home, such as a built-in range or heating/air conditioning system, but not damage to transistors, computer chips and other similar items. This means damage from a power surge would not cover items such as televisions, VCRs, and computers.

10. Should I file a claim if the damage is less than my deductible?

Yes. Sometimes there may be additional damage that becomes evident in the months following a significant storm. Filing a claim, even if the damage total is under your deductible, will protect you in the event further repairs are needed. And if your home suffers damage from more than one storm in a single season, the damage from the first storm may apply toward the deductible amount.

11. My home was not damaged, but can I file a claim for the large tree that fell in my yard?

Homeowners insurance policies do not pay for removal of trees or landscaping debris that did no damage to an insured structure. If a tree hit your home, that damage is covered. If your tree fell on your neighbor’s yard, his or her insurance company would pay for the damage; however, if the felled tree was poorly maintained or diseased and you took no steps to take care of it, their insurer may seek reimbursement from you for the damages.

12. My home is uninhabitable. Does my policy cover temporary living expenses?

Most homeowners and renters policies cover additional living expenses, which are the extra charges over and above your customary living expenses incurred when you are displaced from your home and need temporary shelter. The amount is generally 20 percent of the insurance you have on your home. Some insurers pay more than 20 percent; others limit additional living expenses to an amount spent during a specific time period. You should always check with your insurer to be sure you understand what this coverage allows. Keep all your receipts to document your expenditures.

13. If I evacuated due to the storm, are my evacuation expenses covered?

It depends on what is stated within your insurance policy. Generally, mandatory evacuation expenses are covered under certain conditions.

14. I have a percentage deductible for hurricane damage. How do I know what my out-of-pocket costs are?

The declarations page of your insurance policy details the exact dollar amount of your hurricane deductible. Whether a hurricane deductible applies to a claim depends on the specific “trigger”, which can vary by state and insurer and is usually linked to wind speeds. Percentage deductibles were adopted by many coastal states to lower the cost of annual insurance premiums and have those impacted by the storm more directly pay for recovery costs.

The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its You Tube Channel . Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.

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