Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! My Christmas Video

Like many, I use this space to put my two-cents in about events happening around me. Usually, it is something critical, but Dec. 25 is a day where we try to put all our angst aside and focus on fun, merriment and joy. So in keeping with - or trying to keep with - the tradition of the day here is my little Christmas gift to those of you who have taken the time to read my rants.

Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy this video. Please click here to view.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0C4f7XpyX4&feature=youtube_gdata


Mark Ruquet

Thanksgiving Reflections: An Ode to Gluttony

Old news flashes across an electronic sign outside a
local middle school. (Photo: Mark Ruquet)

By Mark E. Ruquet

After celebrating our annual day of gluttony I thought taking a walk around the block would be an effective way of helping my digestion. Passing the nearby middle school, an electronic billboard sitting in front of the building announcing the school’s fall schedule caught my eye. It was not updated and I was amused to see the announcement of school closure for Election Day on Nov. 4. I soon found myself reflecting on the results of just a few weeks back and on what has happened since that day when the Democrats took a drumming and Republicans found themselves no longer in the position of the opposition party – except for its ongoing war with President Obama.

For myself, my candidate lost. In fact, my spouse did not even cause a ripple of notoriety or controversy. As I had written prior to the election, I was both disappointed and dissatisfied with the quality of the candidates running for Staten Island’s Congressional seat. While he has demonstrated his sensitivity for the needs of the residents of Staten Island, incumbent Republican Congressman Michael Grimm fell out of my favor because of his legal situation. As for Democrat Domenic Recchia, there is no other way of describing his campaign as a poor choice who was ill prepared and ineffective. As I said, in my mind, my choice was my wife and I took the extraordinary step of writing her in.

The result was disappointment. We did not receive a single phone call from the press and there was no celebration or crowds outside the house. She did not make a concession phone call or prepare a press release. Her moment of political celebrity did not go to her head. She was asleep before the end of the 11 o’clock news after an agonizing session of Candy Crush.

I guess I can only blame myself for her failed campaign. Well not really her campaign since I know she did not vote for herself. I guess it would help if next time (if there is a next time) I should get her to cast a ballot in her name.

Having failed to make a dent in the mainstream electorate, I decided my next social statement would be against the ongoing diminution of the holiday spirit as more retailers open their doors for business on Thanksgiving Day. I voted with my feet taking a trip around the block instead of the mall. Unfortunately, listening to the news reports about all the long lines and mad crowds storming the stores it appears the retailers have succeeded in further undermining another holiday, cracking the whip, hauling employees away from the family meal and forcing them to deal with the hordes of holiday bargain hunters.

Retail is a hard business. Profits are thin and black Friday got its name because this time of the year can make or break some retailers. I've heard a few reports that Friday sales were off from last year, which raises the question - is it worth it? Are we living to work or working to live?  

Personally, I prefer the latter. Maybe next year more people will follow my example and reject the retailer’s practice that has not received a rousing endorsement in the public opinion polls. So come along and let's join in making a new trend and have an extra helping of gluttony next Thanksgiving then take a walk around the block instead of the mall – you’ll feel better for it. Trust me.

Video: Superstorm Sandy Second Year Remembrance Midland Beach

By Mark E. Ruquet

On the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, residents of Midland Beach held a remembrance service at the Oasis Church on Greeley Avenue in Midland Beach, Staten Island, New York, led by Pastor Tim McIntyre. Residents packed the small church to reflect on the trauma of that day and how it has altered so many lives, in many ways not for the better. The community remembered the pain and confusion of that horrible day and recognized that while they have come far, there is still much to do. Remembered too were the neighbors lost and the reality that two years later, too many are still waiting for the aid that was allocated but has yet to be distributed. Please view this video that tells the story of how far this community has come, how far it has yet to go and its resilience in the face of adversity.

Click here to view the video.

Halloween Tricks Lead To A Ghastly Number Of Insurance Claims

A reminder from Mercury Insurance Group about how to protect your car and home from vandals around Halloween.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pumpkins are an autumn staple, with uses ranging from jack-o'-lanterns to pies. However, Mercury Insurance reports that, in the wrong hands, pumpkins can lead to nothing but trouble, noting a substantial increase in property damage during the week of Halloween compared to an average week.

"Last year, we had nearly three percent more auto claims and five percent more homeowners claims during the week of Halloween, with our insureds reporting everything from egged and 'pumpkined' cars to creatively mummified homes," says Stephanie Behnke, claims innovation director of Mercury Insurance. "Although these may sound like harmless pranks, they can cause significant and costly damage, so taking some simple steps to protect your property is no joke."

Mercury Insurance offers the following tips to help keep you from falling victim to a Halloween trick:

Park in a garage or well-lit area when possible. Otherwise, consider installing motion detectors in your driveway to turn on lights when someone approaches. If you only have access to street parking, try to park near streetlamps.

Light your walkway. This can reduce the likelihood of vandalism to your home as well as increase visibility for costumed visitors who may have difficulty viewing the terrain.

Avoid parking in deserted areas. Vandals are less likely to do their dirty work out in the open, so park in well-populated areas whenever possible. If you're attending a Halloween party in an unfamiliar neighborhood, ask the host for recommendations on safe places to park.

Activate your alarm. Car alarms are loud and draw people's attention, so use them to deter vandals. 

Keep pets indoors. Some dogs and cats can become easily spooked by strangers or kids disguised in costumes and Halloween attire. Keep pets inside – or in a separate part of your home if you're hosting a party – to keep them safe and prevent any ugly situations where a pet can bite or scratch a guest.

If your car is damaged, many acts of vandalism fall under comprehensive insurance, according to Behnke.

"Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle if it's damaged due to something other than a collision," she says. "For example, if rowdy teens toss pumpkins out of windows or use cars for batting practice, remaining damages would be covered after you've paid your deductible, assuming you have comprehensive insurance at the time of the incident. Otherwise, you'll need to pay for everything on your own."

Before filing a claim:

• Call the police. Filing a report provides you with an official record of the incident and, hopefully, the police will be able to track down the offender. Don't attempt to move or clean any of the damaged items until the police arrive and retrieve necessary information and document the scene.
• Take photos of the damage.
• Contact your insurer. Report claims right away to your insurance company. Mercury customers can call the company toll-free 24 hours a day, seven days a week to report a claim at (800) 503-3724.  

ABOUT MERCURY INSURANCE (www.mercuryinsurance.com)

Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization predominantly offering personal automobile, homeowners and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Florida, Georgia,California, New Jersey, Arizona, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices – core values that distinguish Mercury in the marketplace.

A Voting Quandary

I am a life-long Democrat. I believe that government does have a place in our lives. I do not believe it is some evil behemoth out to subjugate Americans. However, I am not so naïve as to believe that our elected representatives are always looking out for our best interests. There are occasions where I feel there is too much micromanaging: for example limiting the size of soda cups to control obesity. There are times when common sense and personal choice trump the nanny state. The challenge is figuring out when government needs to act in the public’s interest.

That said, next week we will once again make our biannual choice for representative government. This time around, I will probably be casting my vote for a few Republican incumbents. I read somewhere that when a voter decides to remove someone from office there should be a good reason for doing so. For some incumbents, I do not have a good reason for removing them. However, I wish I could say that for all the candidates.

Concerning Staten Island’s Congressional race – between the incumbent, Republican Congressman Michael Grimm and the challenger, Democrat Domenic Recchia, I find the choice to be a difficult one. If you watched the one debate aired by ABC Eyewitness News, the choice becomes less certain.

On debate points, I give Grimm a huge edge. He came across as knowledgeable, intelligent and levelheaded — unlike his celebrated blow-up when he threatened to throw a reporter off the balcony for asking a question about his indictment. Recchia, on the other hand, came across as a buffoon with no other message than Michael Grimm is under indictment and I’m not. He appeared ill prepared to discuss any substantive issues and was more interested in provoking an argument than defining who he is as a candidate. He gave a vague promise about looking out for the interests of State Islanders. His major platform for improving traffic congestion is the creation of a light-rail line for Staten Islanders. He obviously hasn’t done much driving around Staten Island otherwise he would realize while this might help some commuters, it would not be a panacea for the bottlenecks that create traffic crawl around the island.

In Grimm’s disfavor is the federal indictment for failing to pay workers their wages at a business he once owned. He was also involved in the investigation of some questionable campaign contributions and there was that incident with the reporter. Remember that incident during the last campaign when someone vandalized his campaign office on Hylan Boulevard? He jumped to the conclusion that it was the work of some Democratic operatives, only to discover later that it was a group of idiot kids with nothing better to do than bust windows.

However, I’ll be among the first to admit that he has worked hard for this district. I have seen him at the Superstorm Sandy related rallies and I think his involvement is genuine. His heart appears to be in the right place. I am disturbed when he tows the Republican line about Obama Care, runaway budget spending and adopts the philosophical tone that I feel will not benefit middleclass Americans struggling with stagnant wages while a small class of upper-income Americans continue to reap growing financial benefits.

The Democrats were either desperate or clueless to pick Recchia. Grimm, however, is carrying baggage that could hurt his future and his ability to exert influence within the halls of Congress. So then, what is a voter to do?

For me, I’m going to choose someone who I believe would be competent, loyal, honest and probably has as good a grasp of the issues as anyone — my wife.

Why her? Because I feel she can do as good job, if not better, than others who have held or seek to hold a seat in Congress. She is not schooled in all the nuance of foreign and domestic issues, but she will not fake what she does not know and will learn what she needs to know. One may not agree with everything she says and thinks, but I know she is not coming from a position of self-aggrandizement or desire for personal gain. She is not under indictment and she would not threaten to throw a reporter off a balcony. So come Nov. 4, my wife is getting my vote for Congress.

Some may say I’m throwing my vote away, but maybe more of us should use the ballot box to display our dissatisfaction with the current state of politics instead of sitting this one out. Vote for someone you feel is more qualified than the current choice. It may not alter the ultimate outcome of the election, but if we show enough dissatisfaction, some in Congress may get the message that we expect them to have a high degree of integrity and to engage us intelligently. Electing that kind of representative may go a long way to replacing congressional inaction with action.

A Cautionary Tale

If you are someone who believes that once you pay your insurance premium you're covered, you may want to reconsider that. On Friday, West Hartford police arrested the former president of Wright Insurance Agency in Connecticut for taking premium payments and issuing forged insurance documents.

The story appeared online on FOXCT.

Always follow-up to make sure you have a policy if one doesn't come directly from the company. If in doubt about your agent, call your state insurance office to make sure they are licensed in your state.

Additional helpful information can be found at the website of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Build It Back Causes Sleepless Nights For My Wife

N.Y. State Sen. Andrew Lanza
(Photo: Mark Ruquet)

By Mark E. Ruquet

FEMA made my wife cry and now Build It Back is causing her to lose sleep. But there is some hope that the state will do what the city has failed to do, which is to make her and other homeowners whole again. Last Wednesday, during the Sept. 10, Midland Beach Civic Association meeting, my wife expressed her anger and frustration with the program to city officials present. She told them that their efforts to help her are failing miserably, and if completed as planned, will leave her with half the home she has now.

According to an architectural engineer from Build It Back who took measurements of our home early last week to elevate the house above the one in one hundred-year flood line, the program will not replace the space lost when they fill-in the finished basement for the elevation. Why does this upset her; because our home is a high-ranch and we live in our basement like many others in the Northeast. It is not a crawlspace for storage. It is a living area that when lost, will force members of the family to be displaced because the house is otherwise too small for everyone to live in. When she purchased the house over 30 years ago, she did so because of the basement, which she always used as a kitchen, dining room or for bedrooms over the years.

She explained that not only does the plan call for taking the space away, but what we would be left with is a home a mere two feet higher than it is now. The re-paired brick facing will be gone leaving a home sitting on pillars and open space all around. She accurately describes what we would be left with is a bungalow on concrete stilts and there is no way to argue that this eyesore does not diminish the value of the home and our quality of life.

In a broader sense, this is endemic of a system that is placing little value on the comfort of home or is striving to make people whole again. It’s nothing but band aid treatment. Two years of neglect and incompetence has been frustrating enough, but now the insult goes further when the aid we are to receive addresses part of the need and the solution diminishes the quality of life. From the comments from people around us at the meeting, we know we are not alone facing this insult. This same scenario has greeted our neighbors. Others in our community will soon find that what is supposed to be a hand of relief to aid Sandy victims is nothing more than another slap in the face.

At least one elected representative at Wednesday’s meeting heard us and agreed that this situation is unreasonable. State Senator Andrew Lanza heard my wife and said the state should try to step in and help. He made no promises, other than to see what money the state may have to help and to speak to the governor on our behalf. But he sees this for what it is — a wholly unacceptable situation that is making my wife a victim twice, once from Sandy and now from city official incompetence and intransigence. My wife hopes Mr. Lanza will keep his word and get us, and others, the help we need. But until she sees results she remains skeptical.

Her skepticism is not unfounded. A three page spread in the Sept. 5 edition of the New York Times laid out how broken the city's Build It Back program is (Titled: “Storm Rebuilding Program Mired by Its Design”). We, the victims of Sandy, in Staten Island and Brooklyn, need to make a collective effort at letting our elected officials know our displeasure with the lack of progress and how much harm their solutions are doing.

We have to ask our representatives to explain what has happened with the more than $61 billion in aid Congress approved for Sandy victims back in January of 2013. The money was to be split between victims in New York State, New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut. I don’t understand the disbursement schedule, but a good chunk of that cash had to go to New York City. A four-way split would be over $30 billion between New York State and the city. The governor’s office has said that 10,000 homes were substantially damage from the storm throughout the state. For the sake of argument, take $5 billion out for administrative costs, leaving $25 billion — if my math is right — that means $2.5 million per homeowner. Folks just need a fraction of that. So where’s the money? Where’s the help? And why is the city of New York being such a Scrooge and further ruining people’s lives?    

Everest Climbers to Foot 32% Insurance Increase

Mount Everest Shows Itself Courtesy of Jari on Flickr 

By Mark E. Ruquet

When that insurance bill comes in the mail and you begin to feel faint over the cost of the premium, you can take some satisfaction in knowing that there is someone out there paying a lot more than you. However, they can afford afford that trek through the Himalayas that will be costing them so much. If they begin to feel faint it will be for a different reason.

Reuters reports that hikers of the world’s tallest peaks, primarily Mount Everest, will have to fork over an additional 32 percent in insurance costs to cover their Sherpa guide’s insurance coverage beginning in September.

According to the report, foreign mountaineers will pay $19,000 for each guide’s insurance coverage, including medical insurance, up from $13,000. The government of Nepal says the increase is an effort to improve the compensation to the guides. The action comes after an avalanche claimed the lives of at least a dozen people on a climb of Mount Everest just this past April, one of the deadliest avalanche events, say experts.

Do check out the story, if for nothing else than to see the photo of one porter’s burden. After reading what a Sherpa earns, one has to wonder if they are not getting the short-end of the stick.

  

Driver Satisfaction With Auto Insurer on the Rise

By Mark E. Ruquet

I was cleaning my desk recently and came across this press release I thought would be of interest to many auto owners. It is a J.D. Power survey of customer’s satisfaction with their auto insurer from mid-June.

Are you happy with your carrier? J.D. Power’s annual Auto Insurance Study for 2014 says that despite continuing increases in rates policyholder’s overall satisfaction with their carrier is at its highest level in the survey’s 14-year history.

The consumer research firm said overall satisfaction increased by “a significant 16 points to 810” on a 1,000-point scale. The increase comes despite average increases of $86 in 2014, down from last year’s rise in premium of $153. The number of consumers experiencing an increase remained almost unchanged at 19 percent compared to 20 percent in 2013.

“A premium increase often triggers shopping behavior, but we’re seeing fewer people shopping,” said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power, in a statement. “This indicates that insurers are more effectively communicating with their customers, making them aware of the premium increases when they occur and why they’re necessary, and demonstrating the value of their coverage.”

The report underscores the importance of having an agent in the insurance company relationship, finding that overall satisfaction is highest with consumers that have an agent scoring 867. These customers, the report said, are the least likely to shop and switch carriers because of their strong relationship with their agent. 

Those consumers with little relationship with an insurer scored the lowest at 742.

Smaller companies also appear to be doing a better job. J.D. Power said satisfaction with small carriers—those outside of the top 30 companies, improved by 41 points, while the top carriers saw only a 10-point improvement.

So what carriers in the New York region got the highest satisfaction rating? GEICO and State Farm were the highest with an overall score of 822. Of the 11 carriers ranked, Progressive was last with a score of 773.

However, the highest satisfaction score goes to USAA with a score of 901 — which held true on a national level and other regions of the country. J.D. Power does not include the company in its rankings because the company is only open to U.S. military personnel and their families. Three insurers New Yorkers may be familiar with, Amica Mutual, Erie Insurance and Kemper did not make the survey because of small sample size, the research firm said.

Pet Insurance Is Not Health Insurance

You love your pet? Do you treat your pet like family. Like many pet owners, you are willing to spend a lot to care for your dog, cat, bird or whatever furry friend you have at home. At one point you probably have made a visit the veterinarian and it was not cheap.

Realizing an opportunity, some insurers have offered pet insurance to help pet owners defray the high cost of medical treatment for their pets. However, buyers beware. Pet insurance is not health insurance. In fact, the policies fall under property insurance and policyholders should not expect a visit to the vet to be covered in the same way that a visit to their doctor is covered.

In California, one legislator is trying to push a bill through the state legislature that will force insurers to be transparent about the breath of coverage and no longer leave consumers guessing about what precisely they are paying for.

Please read this piece from the Sacramento Bee.

On a personal note, I hope to get back to posting regularly on my blog after taking a mental vacation of sorts.

NOAA Says Odds In Favor of Below Normal Hurricane Season

2014 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook; Courtesy of NOAA 

By Mark E. Ruquet

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that it expects a normal to below-normal Atlantic Basin hurricane season this year.

NOAA said on Thursday that there is a 50 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season and only 10 percent chance of an above-normal season. 

The NOAA Climate Prediction Center forecast said there is a 70 percent likelihood of eight to 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which three to six could become hurricanes, a storm with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. Of the three to six hurricanes, one to two could become major hurricanes, Category 3, 4 or 5 defined as storms with winds of 111 mph or higher.

The forecast is near or below the seasonal averages of 12 names storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, based on the average number of hurricanes during the period 1981 to 2010, NOAA said. The Atlantic Basin hurricane season begins June 1, and covers the regions of the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, said the Atlantic, which has experienced above-normal seasons in 12 of the last 20 years—“has been in an era of high activity for hurricanes since 1995. However, this high activity pattern is expected to be offset in 2014 by the impacts of El Niño, and by cooler Atlantic Ocean temperatures than we’ve seen in recent years.”

Bell said the El Niño is creating conditions of strong trade winds and wind shear over the tropical Atlantic that should produce the “near-average” ocean temperatures suggesting fewer Atlantic hurricanes.

The forecast is in line with earlier forecasts released by Colorado State University and Weather Services International. Both call for a below normal Atlantic Hurricane season this year.

Despite the forecast Joe Mimmich, FEMA associate administrator for Response and Recovery, reminded people that, “It only takes one hurricane or tropical storm making landfall to have disastrous impacts on our communities.” He underscored the need to prepare for the worse and know understand the risks from a storm in your neighborhood.

Build it Back May Finally Work

Contact information for Build it Back

By Mark E. Ruquet

For anyone seeking information about the Build it Back program and their benefit eligibility, here is a presentation made by the current
director of the program to the Midland Beach Civic Association on May 14, 2014.

This is available by clicking here on YouTube.

Speaking later about the program in an e-mail to members, Debi Vadola, the Civic Association's Vice President, said that from comments people had after the presentation it "was the first time I ever heard anything positive said about BIB [Build it Back]." She went on to say that the new director, Amy Peterson, left people with the impression that something will finally be done to help residents finally put their lives back on track.

WSI Calls for Quiet Atlantic Hurricane Season

Hurricane Andrew, 1992. Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

By Mark E. Ruquet

A weather forecasting company connected with the Weather Channel is calling for a quiet Atlantic Basin Hurricane season this year, the second notable service to do so.

Weather Services International (WSI), based in Andover, Mass., recently issued an update to an earlier forecast saying it expects 11 named storms of which five could become hurricanes. Of the five, two could become major hurricanes this season.

“These numbers are lower than both the 1950-2013 normals of 12 [named storms]/7 [hurricanes]/3 [major hurricanes] and the more recent active period (1995-2013) normals of 15 [named storms]/8 [hurricanes]/4 [major hurricanes],” said WSI in a statement.

“The latest data still suggests that a relatively quiet season is in store for the Atlantic basin,” said WSI Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford. “Tropical Atlantic surface temperatures are the coolest they’ve been for this time of year since 1994, and we are increasingly confident that a significant El Nino event is on the way, which typically results in an environment that is not favorable for Atlantic tropical development.”

WSI said it will update its forecast on May 20.

In my blog posting on April 29, I shared the April forecast from the Colorado State University hurricane research team led by William Gray and Phil Klotzbach. Their early season forecast calls for nine named storms of which three could become hurricanes and one may reach major hurricane strength.

Major hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale are Category 3, 4 or 5. The Category 3 storm has sustained winds between 111 – 130 mph and devastating damage will occur. The winds of a Category 4 storm will reach 131 – 155 mph and cause catastrophic damage, such as Hurricane Charley in 2004. The most fearsome is the Category 5 with sustained winds in excess of 155 mph. Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in 1992, was a Category 5 storm.

The Atlantic Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs to November 30.

One observation forecasters continually make is that despite the fact that it appears this year may shape up to be a “quiet” hurricane season, it only takes one major one to make landfall and turn everyone’s life upside down.     

CSU Team Predicts Normal to Below-Normal Hurricane Season

CSU Hurricane Research Team William Gray (on the left)
& Phil Klotzbach. Photo from CSU Website. 

The Colorado State University hurricane research team released its April forecast predicting a normal to below-normal 2014 Atlantic Hurricane season.

The team, led by Phil Klotzbach and William Gray, said the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane season can produce nine named storms of which three are expected to become hurricanes and one could reach major hurricane strength with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.

Klotzbach said the 2014 season is exhibiting weather characteristics similar to 1957, 1963, 1965, 1997 and 2002 hurricane seasons, all of which had normal or below-normal activity.

“The tropical Atlantic has anomalously cooled over the past several months, and the chances of a moderate to strong El Nino event this summer and fall appear to be quite high,” said Klotzbach. “Historical data indicate fewer storms form in these conditions.”

The team said that 2014 tropical cyclone activity could be about 60 percent of the average season. The 2013 tropical cyclone season activity was about 40 percent of the average.

However, Klotzbach notes that it only takes one event to make it an active season for any region along the Atlantic coast. To further illustrate the point, in terms of insurance losses, of the top ten most expensive hurricanes listed by the Insurance Information Institute, Hurricane Betsy struck in September of 1965, which was a below normal season, causing $45 billion in insured losses and is ranked the sixth most expensive hurricane event in history.

The CSU team cautioned that the forecast is only an estimate of activity to be experienced during the upcoming season that runs from June 1 to November 30. The Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone season runs from May 15 to November 30.

Among the estimates, the team says there is a 20 percent chance of a major hurricane (rated Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir/Simpson scale) making landfall on the U.S. East Coast this year. The average for the last century is 30 percent.

CSU will issue forecast updates on June 2 and July 31. The full report is available by clicking here for the press release, or go here to the university news website to connect to the April 10 press release.

The National Weather Service National Hurricane Center has not yet released its forecast, but typically does so in mid-May.   

    

17 Months and Where's the Help

Route of the March 29 Walk a Mile in Our Shoes
demonstration, Midland Beach, Staten Island, N.Y.

By Mark E. Ruquet

Residents fed-up with waiting for New York officials to make good on their promise to help them recover from Superstorm Sandy, gathered for a peaceful demonstration on a rainy Saturday morning in Midland Beach, Staten Island, N.Y.

Homeowners, some still waiting 17 months after Sandy devastated New York and New Jersey, were joined by civic association leaders, Congressman Michael Grimm and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis for Walk a Mile in Our Shoes. The walk took place on March 29 beginning at the Turtle Circle with close to 100 residents gathering on this wet and chilly morning, walking a mile to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the lack of progress city officials have made getting federal dollars promised to the victims.

Residents are upset with the slow pace of the state's buyout program under which homes will be purchased to return the property to its natural state or redevelopment.

The city's Build It Back program received the bulk of criticism. Speaking from my own personal experience, backed-up by the experience of others speaking in the attached video, Build It Back appears to be more concerned with accumulating paperwork than actually spending dollars to make people whole again, despite the promises of federal and local officials.

Please view Walk a Mile in Our Shoes Part I and II, and understand Staten Islander's frustration with the lack of progress.

Forgive the time it has taken to get this posted. I ran into a number of technical difficulties that delayed posting.

Click link to Part I

Click link to Part II

Flood Insurance Increases Still In the Cards

The day after Superstorn Sandy struck, corner of Moreland St.
and Midland Ave., Staten Island (Photo: Mark Ruquet) 

By Mark E. Ruquet

Despite the President's signing of House Bill 3370, homeowners in flood zones still face exorbitant premium increase in their coverage, it's just been delayed.

While the law rolls back rates, it also permits increases of up to 18 percent a year, which means many homeowners will eventually be facing premium charges that puts them in the same situation they face today. It is only a delay. So what's the remedy? Get out of your home or mitigate? Easy said than done for many of us.

An article from the Associated Press illustrates that this issue is not limited to those of us living near a coast line. Indeed, these are people sitting inland living in cities where the options to mitigate their flood exposure are few.

Please click here to read "Flood Insurance Costs Still on the Rise Despite New Law."

The reality is, just raising insurance rates is not an answer. We need a national plan to address flood exposure and obviously, risk transfer is not the sole answer.
 

Proposals to Build Seawall Could Alter Need to Elevate Homes

By Mark E. Ruquet

Many victims of Superstorm Sandy are facing a dilemma—whether they will raise their home to three feet above flood level or pay exorbitant premium rates for flood insurance. That dilemma may become just a bad memory for homeowners if a community flood-mitigation project meets federal flood prevention standards, said community and government representatives.

At the Wednesday, March 12, meeting of the Midland Beach Civic Association, Tom McDonough from the Siller Foundation addressed the need to elevate homes in flood zones, but many homeowners are not eligible for federal or state funding. He said the foundation is looking for ways to deliver the construction at cost, along with funding assistance for homeowners.

However, association members said during the meeting that elevating homes would not be necessary if a seawall is constructed and certified to meet the flood mitigation standard of the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Alex Zablocki, the regional lead for the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program, who was on-hand to discuss the state’s efforts to help Sandy ravaged communities get back on their feet, said the state has $40 million committed to a pilot program to construct a seawall and other flood mitigation measures along the Staten Island’s South Shore. This project has been in the works since 1993. With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the lead, the project is almost at the point where construction could begin by 2016, if not sooner.

Civic Association member Debi Vadola said it is important for residents to have this information as they go about making decisions about what to do with their homes. She said it is equally important that residents push government officials to build the wall to FEMA specifications to ameliorate the eventual high costs homeowners in the flood zones will face in the future.

Zablocki said that an outline of the plan is available at the Army Corps website.

According to the Army Corps web page titled “FACT SHEET — South Shore of Staten Island, NY,” the project covers 13 miles of coast line from Fort Wadsworth to Tottenville extending along lower New York Bay and Raritan Bay. The project, which is still in the study stage, “is to identify possible risk management solutions for hurricane and storm damages in the area, and to determine whether Federal participation is warranted in constructing shore protection measures.” The fact sheet indicates that Congress authorized funding for construction in 2013.

The study is evaluating plans for “a system of levees, seawalls, stone revetments and acquisition and preservation of natural open space storage” from Fort Wadsworth to Oakwood Beach. A second phase of mitigation from Great Kills to Tottenville “is still under assessment.” 

In an e-mail, U.S. Army Corps Project Manager Frank Verga said the Army Corps is preparing a feasibility study in cooperation with state and city officials. He added that more information would become public over the next couple of months.

For those residents who want to make their voices heard and let the press and city officials know we are not happy with the pace of aid coming to those of us devastated by Superstorm Sandy, the Yellow Boots Foundation is sponsoring “Walk a Mile in Our Shoes,” on Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. Those who want to show their dissatisfaction are urged to meet at Midland Beach at the Turtle Circle for a peaceful demonstration to remind city and state decision makers that we’re still here and not happy with the slow rate of progress.

     

So How Did Your Favorite Publicly Traded Insurance Broker Do in 2013

By Mark E. Ruquet

With the first quarter of 2014 fast approaching, I thought I would take a moment to check out the performance of the publicly traded insurance brokers in 2013 in terms of revenue and income. They may not admit it publicly, but they compete between them, and not just in terms of gaining new customers or keeping the old.

In terms of pure revenue dollars, Aon comes out on top for the fourth quarter reporting $3.2 billion in revenue, followed by Marsh & McLennan at $3.12 billion. Willis was third at $919 million closely followed by Arthur J. Gallagher with $890 million. Rounding out the top five publicly traded brokers was Brown & Brown with $343 million.

For the year, MMC edged out Aon by $446 million reporting $12.3 billion. Willis and Arthur J. Gallagher were in the $3 billion club, but Willis came out ahead with $3.66 billion compared to AJG’s $3.2 billion. Brown & Brown also edged into the billion-dollar club reporting revenues of $1.4 billion.

When it came to net income, Aon beat out MMC, producing $360 million in net income for Q4 compared to MMC’s Q4 $303 million. However, for the year, MMC was ahead with $1.36 billion while Aon reported $1.15 billion. If one wants to look at performance, Willis could claim the prize of most improved, rising from Q4 loss of $801 million in Q4 2012 to net income of $74 million. For the year, Willis net income came in at $377 million, much better than 2013 net loss of $433 million.

Willis’ poor showing in 2012 was the result of a net loss of $804 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 resulting from the combination of:

• $492 million related to goodwill impairment in North America

• $200 million related to the write-off of unamortized cash retention awards

• $252 million related to the accrual of 2012 cash bonuses

• $113 million tax charge to establish a deferred tax asset valuation allowance

In terms of their insurance and risk segments – the commissions and fees the firm’s earned from insurance brokering – Aon came out ahead reporting Q4 revenues of more than $2 billion and $7.8 billion for 2013. MMC followed $1.6 billion for Q4 and $6.6 billion on the year. Willis claimed third reporting $911 million Q4 and $3.6 billon on the year. AJG held a solid fourth with $593 million Q4 and more than $2 billion on year. Brown & Brown’s efforts for 2013 produced Q4 risk and insurance revenue of $339 million for Q4 and $1.4 billion on the year.

The full year results are as follows:

Right Still Ignores Pain to Middle Class Homeowners from Flood Insurance Increases

Will Congress do the right thing on Biggert-Waters?
(Photo by Mark E. Ruquet)

By Mark E. Ruquet

With reform legislation pending before the House, one would think that even the right-wing proponents of Biggert-Waters Act would understand the harm it is doing to middle-class homeowners and offer some support for the changes. At the worst, if they feel the rollback reforms are inadequate, then one would think they would offer a plan to improve the bill and at the same time help the middle-class.

According to veteran Washington reporter Dave Postal, nothing could be further from the truth. He reports that the House leadership has heard its members concerns about re-election and has relented from their previous stand on not moving ahead on rolling back Biggert-Waters. A quick-vote -- which could mean moving the bill through the House by unanimous consent avoiding a voice vote -- may mean we could see a resolution of this by the end of next month. Since the House and Senate (S 1926)  passed different bills, it would mean the two bills will go to a conference committee to work out the differences.

However, be warned, passage by the House of bill H.R.3370 will not mean an immediate roll back of rates.

Unfortunately, Postal reports that some very influential right-leaning lobbying groups do not want to see Biggert-Waters repealed. That could still spell danger for the future of the rollback. One can never be certain what happens behind closed doors -- especially when a chummy lobbyist cozy-ups to a Congressman or
Senator.  

 

Global Warming Not a Friend of Skiers

From the NOAA Collection: Ten Signs of a Warming World

By Mark E. Ruquet

I was catching up on some reading today—as another snowstorm kept me indoors for most of the day. Someone mentioned this article in the New York Times and I thought I might as well catch-up on it as part of my reading. If you have not read it, you should. It is interesting. The author, Porter Fox, an editor at Powder magazine, writes about how climate scientists anticipate that by the end of this century there will be few ski resorts left, and those that remain will have shorter seasons.

The most interesting theory, Fox writes in his piece “The End of Snow,” comes from one researcher who theorizes that there will be only six cities left by the year 2100 cold enough to host the winter Olympics of the 19 that have held them. This assumes a global temperature rise of 7 degrees Fahrenheit by then.

If you are a global warming scoffer, consider the following.

The average temperature in the United States hit a record in 2012 at 55.3 F, 3.2 degrees higher than average and 1 degree above the previous record of 1998. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climate Data Center has a wealth of information on this. One of the most eye-opening statistics is a graph I ran (you can run any of a series of statics to get an overall picture of U.S. and global temperature patterns) that clearly shows a pattern of increasing average temperatures, most dramatically since the mid-1990s (check the U.S. and global hyperlinks if you haven’t).

There are people still hell-bent on denying that global morning is a fact and that man-made activity is the cause. Because it is such a hot-button issue among some extremists, who invariably tend to make a lot of noise, many good people in the United States avoid using the term global warming. The reality is denying reality and doing nothing to ameliorate carbon gases is killing our environment and leaving a worse legacy for future generations than budget deficits.

Man Shoots Amish Family's Horse While on Buggy Ride

From a visit to Lancaster, Penn., in 2012.
Photo: Mark Ruquet

By Mark E. Ruqet

There are a lot of idiots in this world, but this one takes the cake. Someone want to start a collection for this family? Might be a little tough since they don't have phones or internet.

Read the Reuter's story: Pa. Man Charged in Amish Buggy Horse Shooting.

Rep. Grimm Says Vote Scheduled on Flood Insurance Bill

Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y. speaking at a town-hall meeting
in Midland Beach, Staten Island, N.Y. in Oct. 2013

By Mark E. Ruquet

New York Congressman Michael Grimm says the House Leadership has paved the way for a vote on his flood bill that is co-sponsored by more than 180 representatives from both sides of the aisle. In a statement, Grimm says that his bill, unlike the Senate bill, will be retroactive through Oct. 1, 2013.

“I couldn’t be more proud to deliver on such an important national and local issue like fixing the skyrocketing premiums of the NFIP,” Rep. Grimm said in his statement. “Without this crucial legislation, many hardworking families in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and throughout the U.S. will be forced out of their homes, foreclosures will sharply rise, and closings will continue to be canceled, preventing the sale of many homes and ultimately devaluing the recovering, yet still fragile real estate market."

The bill, HR 3370, in addition to rolling back rates for four years, will establish a flood insurance advocate to work on the behalf of policyholders.

The only concern I have is that in his statement he says it is an amended version, but doesn't say what the amendment is. So what was amended?

Thanks to the Midland Beach Civic Association for getting this out there.

Cities to Meet with White House, Congress to Urge Delay in Increase to Flood Insurance Premiums

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the National League of Cities (NLC) will join the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties and others to hold meetings with White House officials and members of Congress to urge a delay to the implementation of the Biggert-Waters Act to reform the National Flood Insurance Program. While the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to postpone implementation of the act, cities call on the U.S. House and the Administration to support legislation to prevent rapid increases to flood insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

"America's cities applaud the efforts in Congress to help millions of homeowners facing dramatic increases in their flood insurance premiums," said Clarence Anthony, executive director, National League of Cities. "We look forward to meeting with members of Congress and Administration officials to communicate that more time is needed for FEMA to complete the affordability study mandated by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act. I'm pleased to support the efforts of the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties and other municipal leagues across the country to make sure this issue is addressed by our federal partners and ensure that our cities' residents have access to affordable flood insurance."

"Federal legislation and decision-making can affect Florida's municipalities just as much, and in some cases even more, than state legislation," said Florida League of Cities President P.C. Wu, councilmember, Pensacola, Fla. "For example, issues regarding the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act and municipal financing have an impact in our cities. That's why the Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) committee was created to help the League to strengthen its federal relations. Working together with league staff and the National League of Cities gives Florida's cities a more effective and powerful voice in this new era of Federalism."

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

SOURCE National League of Cities

CONTACT: Tom Martin, National League of Cities, 202-626-3186, martin@nlc.org

Web Site: http://www.nlc.org 

Congressmen Make Error--What a Surprise.

I don't think there has been much confusion about this, but in case anyone is confused by what Congress did recently to flood insurance rates covered in the recently passed budget bill, a former colleague of mine offers a pretty good explanation.

What he writes is that two congressmen were mistaken in their description about a recently passed amendment. Read here.

Gov. Cuomo - Let's Get Business Done

New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressing attendees of the inaugural Citizen Preparedness Program, praising State Sen. Lanza. Says its time to get the work done. Taken Feb. 1, 2014 at New Dorp High School, Staten Island, N.Y.

New York Citizens Prepare for Disaster

Citizen Preparedness Program Certificate of Completion
handed out Saturday in Staten Island, N.Y. 

By Mark E. Ruquet

Do you know what to do if another disaster strikes? Is there a bag ready to do with all your survival needs? Do you know how much you will need and what to bring? Where will the family meet? Do you know what the three types of potential disaster are?

Last Saturday officials with the state of New York gathered at New Dorp High School in Staten Island to launch the Citizen Preparedness Program—an effort to ready us in case another disaster should strike and we are once again cut-off from the security or our homes and our routines.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo dropped by for this inaugural event and emphasized in his comments that Staten Island was the appropriate location to kick-off this statewide program because the borough suffered so much from Superstorm Sandy.

The Staten Island Advance said that the governor expects to train 100,000 New Yorkers in emergency preparation. On Saturday, Cuomo said the aim of the preparedness program is to provide the foundation for a citizen army capable of first caring for themselves and their family in times of emergency and then helping their neighbors to survive the initial disaster and pull it back together.

“You learn what you can do and build back better than before,” he said.

He called the program a simple concept will make a difference in the future of everyone to “prepare, respond and recover.”

Cuomo noted that the need to be prepared is becoming increasingly apparent as changes in climate patterns are becoming more evident. He said this was not the time for debate over climate change, but the increasing number of severe weather events is a reality. While his father, Mario Cuomo, was governor, the elder statesman experienced only a handful of federal disaster declarations in New York, the governor said. Since he became governor, Cuomo said he has been through nine such declarations. The changes happening around us, no matter what the cause, cannot be ignored or controlled.

Saturday’s two-hour program was one hour of speeches from local representatives and Major General Patrick A. Murphy commander of the New York National Guard. The second hour, led by instructors from the Army National Guard, was devoted to citizen preparation and recovery.

The program will be an on-going effort. Anyone interested in additional information or in receiving emergency alerts can go to NY-ALERT.gov.  For information about planning for what you will need in an emergency go to Ready.gov and learn what the essentials are for your Go-Bag and be prepared to leave quickly at a moment’s notice. One item mentioned during the presentation, which is a departure from the usual advice, where Ready.gov tells people to have three days of food, water and medicine at the ready, New York officials are recommending 10 days, one of Superstorm Sandy’s lessons.

  

Is Safety Being Compromised

NOAA Emergency Alert Radio New York broadcast
has issues. Could in impact safety? 

By Mark E. Ruquet

Is a technical problem with NOAA Radio compromising the safety of New York City residents?

Last Saturday I attended the launch of New York State's Civilian Preparedness Training. A lot of good information and advice came out of it--and I plan to write a little something more about it later this week. However, one important early warning system mentioned during the session was the warning signal issued by the National Weather Service to radios equipped with weather alert. 

I have one of those radios, and I think it is great. Something everyone near the coast should have, especially when the weather is threatening. The Weather Channel and Accuweather are great tools, but nothing beats having the alarm and non-commercialized information.

However, if you're looking for the official forecast when there isn't an emergency, you will be hard pressed to find it outside of the Internet. The reason? Since last year, the New York City forecast has been silent except for emergencies because the radio signal interferes with the Coast Guard's Emergency Signal.

NOAA has a memo on its website explaining that despite the fact the two government services broadcast on separate frequencies that do not appear to be close to one another, there is interference. The Coast Guard broadcast is at 156.800 MHZ. NOAA's New York signal goes out on 162.550 MHZ. The memo is dated Dec. 15, 2013. When I check periodically, the broadcast still appear to be spotty (there was a broadcast early Tuesday morning).

NOAA says in its memo, "NOAA weather radio will be placed in operation to broadcast short fuse life threatening weather watches and warnings." There are broadcasts made as part of the Emergency Alert System. 

Many people may not be concerned with NOAA's weather radio operation--with easy access to information with TV, cell phone apps or computers. However, to be honest, there is nothing like the reliability of a good old portable radio. More people should have NOAA alert radios as part of their emergency preparedness kit; but we also need a reliable broadcast system.