FAIA Statewide Catastrophe Plan

FAIA volunteers, staff, and other state partners developed this plan, which is designed to coordinate and assist agents in their response to catastrophic events.

The state is divided into 15 catastrophe zones. Agents in those zones (zone coordinators) help with preparation in their zones and facilitate either incoming or outgoing assistance after a catastrophe. The zone coordinator will be in contact with FAIA senior staff and the zone coordinator of the adjacent area (Buddy Zone) to coordinate assistance.

The following plan of action will come into play when a named storm is within three days of landfall in Florida.

Three Days Before the Storm

FAIA staff will initiate contact with zone coordinators. Zone coordinators should be prepared to answer questions from media regarding how homeowners can prepare for a storm to mitigate property damage. 

If an agency has not yet acquired at least 72 hours of disaster supplies, immediate action should be taken to obtain:

• power generators/switching systems
• gas/diesel/propane
• cash (smaller bills)
• bottled and gallon water
• ice
• nonperishable food products
• paper copies of loss claims forms

Two Days Before the Storm

Zone coordinators will contact FAIA for a list of volunteers and businesses who may be needed to help other agencies when the disaster strikes. Zone coordinators should work with FAIA to assist making travel and lodging arrangements for volunteers that are not in their area.

All zone coordinators in areas threatened by an impending storm should remain in contact with their agency’s FAIA designated member advocate, who will be attending FAIA briefings. Zone coordinators should touch base with their local county emergency management directors to review how insurance teams can help during and after the impending disaster.

One Day Before the Storm

FAIA will send news releases to media in areas of anticipated storm impact, providing them with the names, phone numbers and other contact information for the zone coordinators. Zone coordinators should be prepared to answer questions from the media in respects to mitigating losses.