PORT CHARLOTTE - With debris-strewn U.S. 41 as a backdrop, Daniel Spirdione stepped out of the 36-foot mobile unit clutching a $2,500 check and grinning.
He was among the fortunate ones Sunday to make contact with his homeowners insurance company and receive an advance to pay for temporary living expenses and emergency home repairs.
The money didn't make a dent in what it eventually may cost to fix Spirdione's 44-year-old home, a one-story, cinder block house that he hopes to salvage even though it's missing a roof and filled with soggy furniture and possessions.
But the check from Allstate did help him get past the horror surrounding him. "It was awesome," Spirdione said, his wife Cindy at his side.
It was a scene repeated in scattered locations from Punta Gorda to Cape Coral to Arcadia. Allstate, along with other major insurers like State Farm, Citizens Property and Nationwide, had begun setting up mobile response units (or "MRUs") Sunday morning in some of the hardest-hit areas.
"Almost every major (insurance) company will have a mobile command center either down there or on its way down there," said Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council, the industry's statewide trade group.
After verifying damage and policyholder information, many of the units were authorized to cut checks up to $5,000 apiece for emergency needs. Homeowners can expect to wait weeks, or longer in some cases, before carriers reimburse them in full for damage.
Those insured by smaller companies without command centers were urged to be patient and continue trying to call their carrier's toll-free number.
In some cases, insurers were going house to house assessing damage and leaving notes if policyholders had not returned to their often-ravaged homesteads. "We're already going in and hunting up people (who may have claims) everywhere except for the barrier islands, which we're having trouble getting into," Miller said.
The Florida Department of Financial Services, which oversees the insurance industry, arrived with a mobile unit in Port Charlotte late Sunday, setting up operations at 24123 Peachland Blvd. The unit, equipped with cell phones and computers, was sent to help victims reach their insurance companies - and help agents and adjusters locate policyholders.
Since Hurricane Charley made landfall on Friday, the department has fielded 3,000 calls for assistance. Callers often are searching for claims reporting phone numbers, help in obtaining basic necessities and debris removal.
An undetermined number of Floridians with uninsured property loss also are calling. Those requests are forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 1-800-621-3362. FEMA oversees providing uninsured residents with immediate shelter needs and aid in rebuilding.
Even with insured homes, out-of-pocket expenses may be high. Under Florida law, policyholders whose homes are valued at more than $100,000 are subject to a 2 percent deductible for hurricane-related damage.
"It's now our job to make sure insurance claims are paid quickly and that no one takes advantage of storm victims," Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher said.
Gallagher set an early estimate of insured damage at $11-billion, but others in the insurance industry said that was premature. The Insurance Information Institute is expected to come out with its first estimate today. As of Sunday afternoon, 2,000 claims adjusters - and possibly double that number - had been dispatched across the state, according to a partial survey by the Florida Insurance Council.
One of Allstate's five mobile units was set up off U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) in Port Charlotte in the parking lot of the Charlotte Trade Center strip mall. About 15 disaster-team agents and other Allstate employees from as far away as Texas converged there. Outside, four agents took basic information on claims forms; inside three agents sitting at PCs verified and entered data in the computers. Adjusters rode with clients to their damaged homes to give a quick assessment and then returned to base. Every 10 minutes or so, the computer printer spit out another check.
By noon, more than 65 policyholders had filed through, a slower-than-expected pace. Many of the residents said they didn't know about the claims center and just happened to see a sign while passing by.
Charlie and Sandy Patch of Port Charlotte were in and out within an hour - including accompanying an adjuster to their damaged house and back. "They took us right out and took care of business," said Patch, pocketing a $3,000 check to tide them over.
In line behind the Patches was Al Pachasa of Port Charlotte. The 62-year-old retired cook has been an Allstate customer since he moved to Florida 33 years ago.
During the storm, Pachasa took shelter in a linen closet while his wife curled up on the bathroom floor. Both of them draped towels over their heads in case any glass went flying. When it was over, they found two-thirds of the roof had collapsed, leaving pieces of the ceiling scattered across the living room. A side porch, carport, pool screen and wooden deck were all gone.
Insurance, he said, wasn't the first thing on his mind. "I just thank God I was able to walk out of that house."
Consumers who are approached by an unlicensed agent or adjuster or believe they've been the victim of insurance fraud can file a complaint online at www.fldfs.com or call the toll-free state hotline, 1-800-227-8676.
